Indonesia tightens farm commodity imports to support prices and food security
A new Indonesian trade rule expands the list of restricted agricultural imports in an effort to protect local producer prices, cut import dependence and reinforce food security.
Indonesia's Trade Ministry has issued a new regulation that restricts imports of several agricultural commodities as part of the country's food self-sufficiency program. According to the source, the measure is Trade Minister Regulation No. 11 of 2026. It was promulgated on April 24, 2026 and is scheduled to take effect on May 8.
Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the purpose of the new rule is to refine import policy, maintain a balance between domestic supply and demand, protect local producer prices and strengthen national food security. In other words, the government is trying to use trade controls not only as an administrative tool but also as a way to shape farm production and market conditions at home.
The restricted-import list has been expanded to include feed wheat, soybean meal, mung beans, peanuts, feed rice under the rice commodity group and pears under the horticulture category. Importers will now be required to secure approval from the Trade Ministry, and that approval must be based on technical recommendations from the Agriculture Ministry.
The source adds that some products face additional conditions. Imports of feed rice must be backed by a commodity balance sheet, while pear imports require proof of cold-storage facilities and the relevant horticultural documents. Both feed rice and pears must also be accompanied by surveyor reports. Officials say the regulation was drafted comprehensively with input from multiple stakeholders and with reference to existing trade law and updated government regulations.
Andri Gilang Nugraha, director of imports at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, said the policy is intended to maintain domestic price stability, raise farmers' production and reduce reliance on imports while still considering industrial demand. He pointed to mung beans and peanuts as examples. According to Nugraha, farmers' interest in growing those crops has fallen in part because imported products have entered the market without restrictions on timing or volume.
For Indonesia's farm economy, the move means a tighter link between trade management and domestic production policy. The new regime does not ban imports outright, but it makes market access dependent on approvals, technical recommendations and infrastructure requirements. That could reshape competition for feed ingredients, grains, pulses and horticultural products in the coming weeks, while the government hopes it will create a more predictable price environment and better incentives for local farmers to expand output.