Indonesia eyes export of 52,900 tons of corn this year

Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) has projected that the country could export around 52,900 tons of corn in 2026, reflecting strengthening domestic production and supply resilience.

Deputy for Food Availability and Price Stabilization at the National Food Agency, I Gusti Ketut Astawa, said the projection demonstrates the results of improved agricultural productivity.

He noted that national corn production has become more robust, while the government remains committed to ensuring that farmers’ harvests are fully absorbed by the domestic market.

According to Ketut, the opportunity to export corn has emerged as both the quality and quantity of Indonesia’s output continue to improve without compromising domestic needs.

Indonesia is currently holding 4.5 million tons of corn stock carried over from 2025, which he said would be sufficient to meet domestic demand for nearly three months, based on average monthly consumption of around 1.4 million tons.

The sizable carryover stock, he added, is a key indicator that Indonesia achieved corn self-sufficiency in 2025, forming the basis for government policy decisions this year.

One such decision is the government’s plan not to import corn throughout 2026, whether for animal feed, seed production, or household consumption, as domestic supplies are considered adequate.

The National Food Agency estimates that Indonesia’s total corn production in 2026 will reach 18 million tons, which is expected to be the main pillar for meeting national demand. Ketut expressed confidence that supply and demand can remain balanced throughout the year given the projected production volume.

With these projections, corn stocks at the end of 2026 are expected to remain at around 4.5 million tons, a level the government considers sufficient to maintain supply security and price stability.

To support farmers and market stability, the government has set a government purchase price (HPP) for corn under the Head of the National Food Agency Decree No. 216 of 2025. The HPP for dry shelled corn at the farm level, with moisture content of 18–20 percent, is set at Rp5,500 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, corn with a maximum moisture content of 14 percent and a maximum aflatoxin level of 50 parts per billion stored at Bulog warehouses is priced at Rp6,400 per kilogram.

Source: Tempo.co