Indonesia Eyes Southeast Asia for Rice Exports

February 8, 2026 | 10:31 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The main director of Public Corporation of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Perum Bulog), Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated that Southeast Asia will be the main destination for rice exports in 2026. This follows the government's declaration that Indonesia has achieved rice self-sufficiency.

Rizal mentioned that Bulog is tasked with exporting approximately 1 million tons of rice this year as part of efforts to expand the national food product market and strengthen Indonesia's position in regional trade.

"Where will the 1 million tons of rice be exported to? The first target is our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea. Insha Allah, the rice export will be realized," said Rizal as quoted by Antara on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The export destinations are considered to have geographic proximity and rice needs that can still be met through trade cooperation.

He conveyed that to realize this target, Bulog has coordinated with trade attaches in destination countries and established communication with military attaches to facilitate diplomacy and the distribution process for rice exports. "Moreover, we are also assisted by military attaches to communicate and make this happen," he said.

In addition to the target of rice exports to neighboring countries, Bulog also received a new assignment to prepare rice supplies for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims departing in the 2026 Hajj season.

The goal of the assignment is to ensure that the pilgrims' rice needs are met with locally produced rice. This is because most Indonesian pilgrims are accustomed to eating rice as their staple. "Yesterday, we received orders to immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Hajj and the Ministry of Trade to export 4,000 tons of rice for the needs of pilgrims in 2026," said Rizal.

He stated that the plan to deliver rice for the Hajj pilgrims is scheduled after the limited coordination meeting. The delivery target is set in the near future to ensure timely logistics fulfillment.

He is optimistic that all export targets can be realized according to plan through cross-ministerial coordination and support from various related parties, including those for Southeast Asian countries and Hajj pilgrims.

"Thank God, tomorrow, Monday (February 9), we will hold a limited coordination meeting (Rakortas). Hopefully, it will be decided and in the near future, around March, we will send it to Saudi Arabia," said Rizal.

Read: Indonesia Targets QRIS Payment Expansion Across APEC Countries

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