Indonesia has stopped importing certain types of food

Indonesia has announced it will stop importing rice, corn, and sugar in 2026 due to abundant domestic supply, affirming its commitment to achieving national food self-sufficiency and security.

According to an announcement by Indonesia's National Food Agency (Bapanas), Indonesia will not import strategic food commodities such as corn, rice, and sugar for consumption in 2026, as domestic supply is assessed to be sufficient to meet national needs.

Speaking about the outlook for food security in 2026, Deputy Minister for Food Supply Assurance and Stability I Gusti Ketut Astawa affirmed that Indonesia has achieved a state of food self-sufficiency and security, thereby allowing the government to implement a "no-import" policy for essential goods.

He emphasized: "In the spirit of general consensus, the government has agreed that there is no need to import rice, sugar for consumption, and corn for animal feed in 2026. National reserves and current production are strong enough to meet the needs of the people."

According to Bapanas data, rice inventories at the beginning of 2026 are estimated at approximately 12.5 million tons, including government reserves. With average monthly consumption, this inventory could meet nearly five months of demand. Coupled with a projected rice production of 34.7 million tons, total rice inventories by the end of 2026 could increase to 16.2 million tons.

The situation for corn is also considered positive. Initial inventories of around 4.5 million tons are sufficient for three months, while the projected annual production is 18 million tons. Based on this, Indonesia is even considering resuming corn exports.

For sugar, early-year reserves are estimated to be sufficient to meet up to six months of consumption without imports, with domestic production estimated at between 2.7 million and 3 million tons.

Agriculture Minister and head of Bapanas, Andi Amran Sulaiman, stated that the no-import policy is a step aimed at protecting and supporting domestic production. “Our farmers and livestock breeders must not suffer losses. They must reap the rewards of their labor, and they will be the ones to meet the food needs of the Indonesian people,” Amran said.

The Indonesian government has expressed optimism that achieving food self-sufficiency by 2026 will not only secure domestic supply but also open up opportunities for exporting rice and corn, strengthening the country's position in the regional agricultural market.

Source: VTV