Indonesia to See 5 Million-Ton Rice Surplus Amid Food Crisis in Neighboring Countries

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has assured that Indonesia’s rice stock remains secure, even as neighboring countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan struggle with a food crisis. Indonesia is expected to have a rice production surplus of 5 million tons by April 2025.

According to Bapanas Chief Arief Prasetyo Adi, projections from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) indicate that Indonesia will have a rice surplus of 5 million tons between March and April 2025. However, he also warned that farmers’ rice prices could decline sharply.

"BPS predicts a surplus of over 5 million tons in March-April. In terms of unhulled rice, that's approximately 12 million tons. What we’re concerned about is the possibility of prices dropping significantly," Arief stated in an Instagram post on @badanpangannasional on Sunday (February 23, 2025).

Government's 2 Million-Ton Rice Stock Expected to Stabilize Prices

Arief also revealed that the government's rice reserves have reached 2 million tons, which is expected to help stabilize rice prices in the market.

He confirmed that the price of premium rice in Java remains at IDR 14,900 per kilogram, while medium-grade rice varies, reaching up to IDR 13,000 per kilogram.

"We have been preparing since the end of last year, with a stock of around 1.9 to 2 million tons. God willing, this will help us maintain stable rice prices," he said.

Neighboring Countries Face Food Crisis, Rice Prices Surge

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reported that several neighboring countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan, are facing a food crisis.

In Japan, the government was forced to release 210,000 tons of rice from its one-million-ton emergency reserve, a historical first, due to an extreme price hike of up to 82%.

In Malaysia, a shortage of local rice has triggered public panic. Shrinking supplies have led to soaring prices, while imported rice has also become more expensive.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the government declared a food security emergency in early February 2025 after rice inflation surged to 24.4%, marking the highest increase in 15 years.

Minister Andi Amran emphasized that countries dependent on rice imports, such as the Philippines and Malaysia, are highly vulnerable to global supply disruptions.

"This crisis is a valuable lesson that relying on imports is not a long-term solution. Indonesia must strengthen its domestic production to achieve greater self-sufficiency," he concluded.

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