The government has set import quotas for a number of foods whose fulfillment is partly from abroad. Foodstuffs that were partially imported this year based on the commodity balance sheet meeting include rice, garlic, beef, corn, and animal feed.
Arif Sulistyo, Import Director of the Ministry of Trade, explained several things in the coordination meeting on inflation control, as quoted from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ YouTube on Monday (26/2/2024).
First, this year’s rice import quota for regular needs is 2 million tons. Then there will be an additional 1,6 million tons. So the total rice import quota this year is 3,6 million tons.
“The agreed import plan allocation of general purpose rice imports totals 2 million tons; this is the assignment of Bulog. Then, with the addition of the limited coordination meeting on February 5, 2024, there is a general requirement of 1,6 million tons,” he said.
Second, the specified garlic import quota is 645.025 tons. Arif revealed that until now, the import approval (PI) allocation report has been published for as many as 214.149 tons, around 33% more have been published.
Third, importation of beef. The agreed import plan for regular consumption amounted to 145.251 tons, and the trade ministry has issued PI amounting to 141.142 tons. Meanwhile, PI for industrial needs has been issued in its entirety, amounting to 5.101 tons.
Then, the government also set a quota for meat imports for government reserves of 120 thousand tons and for meat imports carried out by the private sector of 50 thousand tons. This is in accordance with Government Regulation (PP) No. 11/2022 concerning amendments to PP No. 4/2016 concerning the entry of livestock and/or animal products in certain cases originating from countries or zones within a country of origin of income.
The need for domestic beef reaches 720 thousand tons. While domestic production was only able to reach 422.649 tons.
Fourth, importation of corn. The corn import quota for industrial needs was determined at 1.217.026 tons. The Ministry of Trade has published PI allocations for the commodity.
Fifth, importation of animal feed. The import quota for animal feed is 750 thousand tons, and the trade ministry has issued all PIs for the commodity.