Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Trade Ministry has started delivering 1.3 million liters of cooking oil in simple packaging, priced at Rp14 thousand per kilogram, to Indonesia's eastern regions.

The distribution has been undertaken to stabilize the price of cooking oil, specifically in East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan informed during a cooking oil delivery event at Tanjung Priok, here on Thursday.

"The activity that we are doing to this day concludes the entire two months’ activity to make bulk cooking oil or cooking oil with simple packaging with the price Rp14 thousand per liter," he said.

The average price of cooking oil with simple packaging in Java and Bali has already reached Rp13 thousand per liter, he noted.

Meanwhile, the price of cooking oil with simple packaging in half of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi has been recorded at Rp14 thousand per liter, with some areas even reporting a rate of Rp13,500 per liter.

However, the price of cooking oil with simple packaging in East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Papua is still ranging from Rp17 thousand to Rp19 thousand per liter due to high logistical costs.

"To this end, intervention is necessary. I thank the Transportation Minister since we are using the sea toll route. With this (sea toll), the (cooking oil) transportation will be easier," Hasan said.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that he is happy since the sea toll service is continuing to play a positive role in Indonesia's logistics distribution activities.

The sea toll service is relatively affordable so the price of cooking oil that the government has set can be maintained, he added.

On July 6, 2022, the Trade Ministry had unveiled cooking oil with simple packaging under the brand MinyaKita and priced at Rp14 thousand per liter to help people buy the commodity.

Hasan said he expects the cooking oil to be distributed at roadside stalls, traditional markets, minimarkets, and also supermarkets across Indonesia.

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Translator: Sugiharto P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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