Indonesia opens 1,000 tons of premium rice exports to Malaysia
Bulog stocks were cited at 5.2 million tons, with exports potentially rising to 200,000 tons a year to supply Sarawak.
Indonesia has begun exporting 1,000 tons of premium rice to Malaysia after the government judged domestic supply to be secure. The export agreement was signed in Jakarta by Perum Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani and Borneo Sdn Bhd Paddy and Rice General Manager Jumaat bin Ibrahim, witnessed by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, on Friday night. Amran said Bulog's rice stock now stands at 5.2 million tons, with a surplus of about 2 million tons, allowing the government to open exports gradually. The first phase is aimed at Malaysia, with the potential to rise to 200,000 tons a year to meet demand in Sarawak. The agreed price is about 3.9 Malaysian ringgit, or Rp17.000, per kilogram. Amran also said talks with Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu could lead to larger volumes.