JAKARTA: Indonesia will import 10,000 tons of beef from several countries, including Australia, in a bid to stabilize rising beef prices in markets, says Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution. According to him, the current price of beef in the market was relatively high, as much as Rp 113,000 ( $US8.29 ) per kilogram ( kg ). He targeted that the imports would lower the price down to around Rp 80,000 to Rp 85,000 per kg.
“We have assigned state-owned firm Berdikari to manage the import with the aim of lowering the price down to Rp 80,000 to Rp 85,000 per kg. The quota is 10,000 tons and will arrive before the fasting month [June],” Darmin said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In addition, the government would also assign several state-owned firms to import 2,500 tons of shallots as changes in the harvest period have led to a drop in local supplies. “We’ll see the harvest probably in the next two or three weeks, so the imports are aimed to fulfill demand in that initial two or three weeks,” he said. Meanwhile, supply of other commodities such as chili, corn and rice were currently under control, Darmin said. “Although the price of rice may slightly decrease, we have adequate supply. Bulog [the State Logistics Agency] has a large stock from local purchases,” he went on saying.
