15 Dec 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman, has reiterated the government’s commitment to a zero rice-import policy, affirming President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to maintain national self-sufficiency despite falling global prices.
The statement followed a parliamentary hearing on Monday concerning an alleged illegal shipment by PT MSG in Sabang, Aceh, where authorities seized a warehouse containing imported Thai rice. Minister Sulaiman noted that the violation partly arose due to Sabang’s status as a free-trade zone, but stressed that the area remains subject to national policy prohibiting rice imports to safeguard food sovereignty.
President Prabowo has emphasized that imports are unnecessary this year, as domestic production is sufficient to meet demand and maintain buffer stocks. Minister Sulaiman projected national rice output at 34.7 million tonnes, surpassing the government’s 2025 target of 32 million tonnes, reinforcing Indonesia’s self-sufficiency.
The minister described the 250-tonne seized shipment as minor in volume but politically sensitive, with potential to mislead perceptions about national food security and undermine policy consistency. He praised Parliament’s Commission IV for supporting strict enforcement against illegal imports, highlighting that such measures protect farmers and uphold Indonesia’s food-security strategy.
Sulaiman noted that the attempted import was driven by commercial interests, following a sharp decline in global rice prices from approximately US$650 per tonne to US$340 after Indonesia halted purchases. Two years prior, Indonesia imported seven million tonnes, influencing global markets; the cessation of imports prompted producing countries to lobby Jakarta for resumption.
The minister affirmed that Indonesia is resisting external pressure, maintaining that self-sufficiency is a national priority and will not be compromised for short-term commercial gains. He added that isolated incidents of illegal imports do not undermine the country’s self-sufficiency, which is grounded in domestic production.
Commission IV chair, Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek Soeharto), called for strict legal action against those responsible for the Sabang shipment, underscoring that the government’s no-import stance must be fully respected.