JAKARTA - National Logistic Agency (Bulog) has secured permit from the Ministry of Trade to import raw sugar as much as 260,000 tonnes in an effort to stabilize the price of sugar in the country. Director of Import of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade Ministry of Trade Veri Anggrijono said, raw sugar import license granted for Perum Bulog will later be processed into white sugar and is expected to stabilize sugar prices at the consumer level.
Previously, the government assigned PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI), PT Perkebunan Nusantara IX, X, XI and XII to import as much as 381,000 tons of raw sugar. However, the Ministry of Industry said that the milling capacity of the company was only able to 114,000 tons. Thus, in its development, the government assigned Bulog to import raw sugar. Data from the Market Monitoring System Necessity (SP2KP) of the Ministry of Commerce, on Wednesday, showed the price of sugar at national level still stands at 15,000 per kilogram. While the government said the fair price for the commodity in the range Rp12,500 per kilogram. (*)