Bulog Pushes to Finalize Rice Export Deals With Malaysia and Singapore

Indonesia's state logistics company Perum Bulog is accelerating efforts to finalize rice exports to Malaysia and Singapore, prioritizing price certainty while trying to protect domestic farmers, according to Liputan6.com, citing Antara.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said the company was acting directly on instructions from the head of the National Food Agency and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman to speed up technical discussions with both countries.

"We will immediately follow up on the minister's order to go straight after the ball in Malaysia and Singapore, to pursue price certainty and other matters," Rizal said, as quoted on Monday, 13 July 2026.

Malaysia deal stalled on timing

Talks with Malaysia have yet to begin because the Malaysian government is not yet ready to receive a delegation from Bulog. Rizal described the delay as an internal matter for Malaysia, adding that communication is continuing so negotiations can start as soon as possible.

"We haven't gone there because they are not ready. So we can't just go there when they can't receive us yet — that wouldn't be appropriate. But we keep pushing so they are ready to receive us and there is certainty on the price of the deal," Rizal said.

Bulog has previously outlined a plan to export 200,000 tonnes of rice to Malaysia, still at the price-negotiation stage. To speed up the process, Bulog and a team from the Ministry of Agriculture plan to visit Sarawak, Malaysia, to discuss rice trade cooperation.

Singapore shipment of 10,000 tonnes prepared

Alongside Malaysia, the government is preparing to export 10,000 tonnes of rice to Singapore. That plan was discussed in a bilateral meeting between Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Jakarta on 29 June.

Farmer protection sets the price floor

Rizal stressed that in every export discussion, Bulog follows the directive of President Prabowo Subianto that the agreed rice price must not disadvantage Indonesian farmers. Instead, exports should deliver adequate returns to farmers while supporting national economic interests.

If negotiations proceed smoothly, exports to Malaysia and Singapore are expected to mark a first step in expanding Indonesia's rice market. The move is intended to strengthen Indonesia's position as a rice producer in the region and open new market opportunities while keeping farmer welfare at the forefront, Liputan6.com reported.