ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia has become Southeast Asia’s largest rice producer and the world’s fourth-largest overall, according to the latest Food Outlook report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), underscoring the country’s growing role in regional and global food security.
The FAO report places Indonesia behind only India, China and Bangladesh in global rice production for 2025, while identifying Indonesia as one of the few major producers expected to record positive production growth.
Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) chief Andi Amran Sulaiman said the figures reflect international recognition of the country’s agricultural performance, particularly in rice production.
“FAO has once again ranked Indonesia as the largest rice producer in Southeast Asia and the fourth-largest in the world after India, China and Bangladesh,” Amran said on Saturday.
According to FAO projections, Indonesia recorded the strongest increase in rice production among the world’s leading producers between the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 periods. National output is expected to rise by around 4 million metric tons, surpassing growth in India, Brazil and Bangladesh.
The increase comes as Indonesia intensifies efforts to strengthen domestic food security through higher agricultural productivity, expanded planting areas and improved support for farmers.
FAO also noted improvements in Indonesia’s rice inventories and price stability. In its June 2026 Food Outlook, the agency said rising rice stocks in Indonesia are helping support global grain reserves at a time when food security remains a concern in many regions.
Global rice stocks are projected to reach 213.8 million tons by the end of the 2026/2027 season, with Indonesia contributing significantly to that growth.
State food procurement agency Bulog currently holds approximately 5 million tons of rice reserves. Amran said the government has no plans to resume imports of medium-grade rice, citing ample domestic supplies.
Indonesia’s government rice reserves stood at around 5.2 million tons as of June, he said, adding that no import permits for medium-grade rice have been issued since 2025.
FAO projects Indonesia’s closing rice stocks to reach 7.5 million tons in the 2025/2026 period and increase further to 7.8 million tons in 2026/2027.
Rice inflation has also moderated. After fluctuating during 2025, monthly rice inflation slowed to 0.38% in May 2026, according to government data.
“Rice is no longer a major contributor to inflation. This has been the case for two consecutive years,” Amran said.
FAO noted that stable producer prices in several countries, including Indonesia, South Korea, Pakistan and the Philippines, have encouraged farmers to continue planting rice rather than switching to alternative crops, supporting higher harvests and stronger supply outlooks.
The agency, however, expects rice production to decline in several other Asian countries, including Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, highlighting Indonesia’s increasingly prominent role in maintaining regional food availability. (AT Network)
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