Broiler chicken prices climb above government benchmarks

Broiler chicken prices in several parts of Indonesia have risen as Ramadan 1447 Hijri approaches, with some traditional markets reporting figures above the government’s Reference Purchase Price and Highest Retail Price of US$2.25 per kilogram.

At Serpong Traditional Market, chicken is now selling for US$2.84 per kg. Traders say the increase began last weekend, with prices jumping between US$0.30 and US$2,000 within days. Based on patterns seen in previous years, sellers expect further rises of around US$0.12 every two days, which could push prices to US$2.96per kg if demand continues to strengthen.

In Medan, North Sumatra, broiler chicken is being sold for between US$42,000 and US$45,000 per kg. Economic observer Gunawan Benjamin linked the rise to stronger demand ahead of Ramadan, while supply growth has remained limited.

"Many people are complaining about the price of broiler chicken, which has reached Rp 45,000 per kg. However, in several traditional markets in Medan, prices still vary between Rp 42,000 and Rp 45,000 per kg," Gunawan said.

He noted that supply in the week before Ramadan increased by less than 12 percent compared with the previous week, while demand rose at a faster pace.

In Surabaya, monitoring at Dukuh Kupang Market on February 17, 2026 showed chicken priced at US$42,000  to US$43,000 per kg, slightly above the set retail ceiling. Nationally, data from the National Food Agency recorded the average price at US$40,572 per kg on February 15, 2026, a marginal daily decline.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso stressed that the government is tracking developments closely. "So, that doesn't mean the national average is Rp 45,000 per kg. However, we are still monitoring high prices in some markets. This could be due to insufficient supply or increased demand. We are ensuring prices remain under control and within the benchmark," Budi said.

Head of the National Food Agency, Andi Amran Sulaiman, added that President Prabowo Subianto is directly monitoring food prices. "On several occasions, the President even asked about the development of meat and chicken prices several times a day," said Amran.