November 26, 2025 | 06:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, commonly known as Zulhas, has reaffirmed that Indonesia will not allow rice imports throughout 2025. His statement follows the discovery of 250 tons of imported rice from Thailand entering the country without permission.
Zulhas said he first learned of rumors regarding rice imports from abroad. “I received the report about the rice on November 13, but it came from overseas sources. We have never given permission for rice imports,” he told reporters in Tangerang, Banten, on November 26, 2025.
The ban aligns with the government’s rice self-sufficiency program. With domestic production exceeding 4.7 million tons and stockpiles of around 4 million tons in Bulog warehouses, authorities say there is no need to import rice.
Upon receiving the information, Zulhas instructed his deputy to conduct direct inspections. “When the report about rice coming from Thailand arrived, I asked my deputy to verify and mitigate the situation. If true, it must be stopped,” he said.
Government Seals Illegal Rice Shipment
On November 23, 2025, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman held a press briefing regarding the seizure of the illegal rice in Sabang, Aceh. Authorities had sealed 250 tons of imported rice and are investigating those responsible.
Amran noted irregularities in the import process. Minutes from a government coordination meeting in Jakarta on November 14 showed that the import request had been rejected by the relevant officials.
However, a permit had already been issued by Thailand, suggesting the imports may have been planned outside proper procedures.
“The rice distribution was immediately halted because it lacked proper import permits,” Amran said. “We are tracing all parties involved, including a company operating in Sabang, and investigating if similar cases exist in other regions such as Batam.”
Rice imports remain illegal, as President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized that national rice stocks are sufficient. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) projects Indonesia’s rice production this year at 34.7 million tons, while Bulog warehouses hold 3.8 million tons.
In Aceh Province, the food balance projection indicates a rice surplus of 871,400 tons, with total availability of 1.53 million tons against a consumption requirement of 667,700 tons. Sabang specifically has a surplus of 970 tons, with 5,911 tons available and 4,940 tons required.
Alfitria Nefi contributed to the writing of this article.
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