Indonesia’s state purchasing agency, Bulog, has announced an international tender for approximately 350,000 metric tons of rice, as reported by European traders on Friday. The deadline for submitting price offers is set for September 3, followed by negotiations that will take several days before a final decision is made. The rice is expected to arrive in Indonesia between September and October.
This tender is part of Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to bolster local rice supplies and stabilize prices following a disappointing domestic harvest. In a previous tender on August 5, Indonesia secured 320,000 tons of rice.
The National Food Agency’s Sarwo Edhy indicated that Indonesia might import up to 4.3 million tons of rice this year if domestic production does not meet demand. The country’s statistics agency has reported that rice output from January to August is projected to be 9.52% lower than in the same period last year. As rice is a staple for Indonesia’s 270 million citizens, rising domestic prices have become a significant concern, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions affecting crops.
In this latest tender, Bulog is specifically seeking white rice with a 5% broken grade from the 2024 crop year, which must be milled within the last six months. Potential sources for the rice include Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Pakistan.