Coronavirus also affected food prices in Indonesia. (Image via Bisnis Tempo)

Garlic's price rises amid the novel coronavirus outbreak

In recent weeks, the prices of main commodities leaped. The highest leap was made by garlic. According to the Information Center for Strategic Food Price (PIHPS), the national average garlic price on Monday reached Rp54,450/kg, rising by Rp9,800 compared to Monday last week.

The novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Central China, took its toll on Indonesia’s garlic import.

In Central Java, about 95 percent of garlic is imported from mainland China. The coronavirus is hampering it. The region saw an Rp15,000 rise on garlic’s price from Rp35,000 to Rp50,000/kg. Therefore, Central Java is seeking alternative supplies from its local farms.

Not only garlic but also chicken, eggs, and shallots also rose altogether with garlic. Chicken is sold at Rp32,400/kg, eggs at Rp24,800/kg, and shallots at Rp40,350/kg.

That’s for import. Indonesia’s export is also hampered due to the novel coronavirus that took at least 563 people and infected over 28,000 people globally. Rubber, a key Indonesian export commodity, fell to Rp7,200/kg from Rp9,200/kg as the virus also infected the trade between China and Indonesia.

Fortunately, no confirmed cases were detected in Indonesia.

Other than the price hike, there are also commodities whose prices went down. Rice went down to Rp11,750/kg, grade I beef to Rp120,300/kg, red chili to Rp57,500/kg, and green chili to Rp41,050/kg.

Source: https://bit.ly/2OGO72d