Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 05:56 AM UTC

Rice inflation nearly flat as Indonesia steps up price stabilization

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Harianto, Kenzu

..rice did not contribute significantly to inflation in the volatile food component, or food inflation,

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas) said inflation eased in October as the government stepped up interventions through its Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, the Cheap Food Movement (GPM), and food distribution efforts to stabilize rice prices.

"Our food supply is strong. Moreover, rice stocks are at their highest level in history. As directed by President Prabowo, we must distribute these stocks for the public's benefit through SPHP, food assistance, and other programs," Bapanas Head and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Tuesday.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data cited by Bapanas, both annual and monthly headline inflation declined. Monthly headline inflation in October stood at 0.22 percent, down from 0.33 percent in September.

"One notable point is that BPS reported that rice did not contribute significantly to inflation in the volatile food component, or food inflation," Sulaiman said.

Monthly food inflation also eased to 0.77 percent in October from 1.46 percent in September. BPS reported that monthly rice inflation was nearly zero at 0.08 percent, down sharply from 0.80 percent in September, the highest rate recorded in 2026.

Before September, the highest monthly rice inflation had been recorded in March at 0.65 percent, during the peak of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. To contain rice price fluctuations in October, Bapanas strengthened its SPHP rice program.

The first SPHP rice distribution assignment since March was fully realized by state logistics agency Bulog in the fourth week of September, Bapanas said.

"Rice prices must remain stable. Global conditions are currently on alert, but we in Indonesia, God willing, are safe," Sulaiman said.

Bapanas recorded that government rice reserves (CBP) distributed to the public totaled around 161,000 tons in October. Most of the rice was distributed through Bulog's SPHP program to maintain access to affordable rice for low-income households.

Bapanas also continued to organize the Cheap Food Movement. The program was implemented 1,595 times across 38 provinces in October.

The agency also supported the movement of food stocks from surplus areas to deficit regions through its Food Distribution Facilitation (FDP) program.

FDP activities in October covered more than 22.2 tons of various commodities, including red cayenne pepper shipments to areas experiencing price fluctuations.

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