The Riau Islands Police Food Task Force Calls The Lack Of Stock Allegedly Triggering An Increase In Frozen Meat Prices In Batam

Frozen chicken meat archive. ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty

The Riau Islands Regional Police's Food Task Force (Satgas) found indications of an increase in the price of frozen meat, both in cattle and special chickens in Batam City, due to reduced stock.

Head of Sub-Directorate I of Industry and Trade (Indag) of the Riau Islands Police, AKBP Ruslaeni, said that his party had coordinated with Disperindag and meat distributors regarding the increase in frozen meat prices.

"As a result of coordination with distributors, the last frozen meat entered Batam one month ago. So far there has been no new shipment," Ruslaeni confirmed in Batam, Antara, Thursday, July 17.

Batam is the main center for the distribution of frozen meat for the Riau Islands (Kepri) region. So that with the disruption of frozen meat supplies to Batam, it has a direct impact on all areas in the region.

"Because the entrance to the distribution of frozen meat for the Riau Islands region through Batam, this condition will not only have an impact on Batam, but also spread to other regencies/cities," he said.

He said, under normal conditions, market needs can be offset by supplies from distributors. However, in the past month, the remaining old stock has decreased in number.

"The results of direct checks in the field show that the stock of frozen meat is running low and prices at the retail level have started to rise," said Ruslaeni.

According to him, the distribution of frozen meat to Batam is carried out by calculating quotas based on market demand. However, the entry of new supply shipments has not yet been made, distribution to retailers has become limited.

"Usually distributors arrange quotas for the next few months. But without new shipments, distribution to the market has stalled. This is the main cause of the increase in frozen meat prices in Batam," he said.

What caused the distribution of frozen meat to be delayed to Batam, Ruslaeni said it was necessary to ask Customs and Excise.

ANTARA has contacted the Head of the Batam Customs Office, Zaky Firmansyah, via a WhatApps instant message regarding the problem of shipping the frozen meat. However, until this news was revealed, there had been no response.

Meanwhile, monitoring in the market, the price of frozen meat, both beef and chicken, has increased from usual, especially in supermarkets, for chicken jeroans from frozen chickens, sold at a price more expensive than usual. Like cekers and careful-emeras weighing 250 grams, usually not more than Rp. 10,000, now it is sold for more than Rp. 10 thousand.

Meanwhile, the price of frozen quiet meat in the last few weeks has also jumped at the price of IDR 130 thousand per kilogram.

Ruslaeni added that the Food Task Force continues to monitor and coordinate with distributors to anticipate the potential for a higher price spike. And remind business actors not to take advantage of the situation to take advantage of higher profits.