Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, has emphasized that any plan involving rice exports must first be reviewed through the country’s commodity balance mechanism to ensure that domestic food security remains a priority. As quoted by ANTARA on Sunday, May 18, Budi noted that despite current stock surpluses, rice exports cannot proceed without undergoing the required assessments.
“Even if there’s a surplus, it must first be discussed in the commodity balance,” he stated, underlining that rice is a critical staple and thus subject to strict regulatory oversight. He stressed that any export decision must align with the commodity balance, a system designed to monitor and manage the availability and distribution of essential goods in Indonesia.
His remarks come in response to recent comments by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, who stated that Indonesia is now prepared to export rice to Malaysia. According to Sudaryono, several countries import rice on a regular basis, and Indonesia is ready to meet their needs when conditions are appropriate. This move is said to align with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to boost Indonesia’s food competitiveness in regional and global markets.
Indonesia currently holds a Government Rice Reserve (CBP) of over 3.7 million tons, the largest in ASEAN, surpassing major producers like Thailand and Vietnam. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s April 2025 Rice Outlook, Indonesia’s rice production for the 2024/2025 season is projected at 34.6 million tons, an increase of 600,000 tons from previous estimates and a 4.8% rise from last year.
This record stockpile, the highest since the founding of Perum Bulog in 1969, is expected to approach 4 million tons, solidifying Indonesia’s food security. The surplus is seen as a strategic tool for maintaining stable domestic rice prices and enhancing Indonesia’s resilience against global food supply shocks.
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