Indonesia Readies Rice Shipment to Saudi for 2026 Hajj

Jakarta: Indonesia is preparing to ship 2,280 tons of domestically produced rice to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj season.

This will ensure smooth logistics, supporting local farmers, and meeting the dietary preferences for Indonesian pilgrims, officials said on Monday.

National Food Agency Secretary-General Sarwo Edhy said the agency would formally assign state logistics firm Bulog to handle the export after inter-ministerial approval, following a coordination meeting led by Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan.

He said the shipment would use government rice reserves under the food supply and price stabilization scheme to supply meals for 205,420 Indonesian pilgrims, with daily consumption estimated at 170 grams of cooked rice per person.

The export will consist of premium-grade rice with a maximum broken rate of 5 percent, meeting quality standards set by Indonesian authorities, Edhy said.

Hasan said using domestic rice underscored Indonesia’s food sovereignty, noting that Indonesian pilgrims had previously consumed rice imported from Vietnam and Thailand during the Hajj season.

"Our pilgrims prefer Indonesian rice. It is softer and suits our taste. That is why we agreed the rice must come from our farmers and be shipped to Saudi Arabia,” he said, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, 10 February 2026.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said the company would begin shipments in the third week of February, preparing up to 3,000 tons to anticipate additional demand.

He said the rice would be processed from freshly harvested grain, adding that the policy reflected national pride and determination to avoid dependence on foreign supplies for essential food needs.

Indonesia’s domestic rice procurement has accelerated this year, with Bulog absorbing 209,300 tons of locally produced rice as of Feb. 8, up 440.7 percent from the same period last year, providing ample stock to meet both domestic consumption and export commitments.