December 27, 2019

Indonesia announces its ruminant meat import targets for next year

Agung Hendriadi, food security agency head, Indonesia Agriculture Ministry said the country will need to import 129,000 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat for the food industry, 60,000 tonnes of buffalo meat for retail and 550,000 feeder cattle, reported Reuters.

He said that the government will select import license beneficiaries and sources next week. Prices will determine the source of imports, with Argentina, Brazil and Australia the countries considered.

He was speaking at an inter-agency coordinating meeting on food supply.

As a beef substitute, Indonesia purchases India's water buffalo meat as it is cheaper.

Hendriadi said Bulog, the state procurement agency will be assigned to purchasing India's buffalo meat next year, adding that Bulog only used 80% of its 100,000 tonnes of water buffalo meat import quota this year.

-      Reuters