Beefing Up! Jakarta Secures Food Stocks with Australian Cattle Imports

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung inspected the arrival of imported Australian cattle at Pier 101, Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, Tuesday (2/24).

We hope these three main commodities won't see any significant price hikes in Jakarta

It is a proactive step to keep a lid on beef prices and ensure steady supplies as the capital prepares for the upcoming Ramadan and Idulfitri festivities.

In this initial phase, 3,139 head of cattle have arrived, marking a significant milestone in a 7,500-head target.

Dharma Jaya Tightens Grip on Beef Price Stability

"Today, Dharma Jaya officially imported cattle from Australia. As of today, roughly 3,100 have arrived out of the planned 7,500," he stated.

This shipment marks the first time in 28 years that city-owned enterprise (BUMD) Dharma Jaya has handled such an import. Pramono emphasized that this breakthrough was made possible by leveraging sister city relationships between Jakarta and several Australian cities.

With these supplies on hand, he is confident that Jakarta can weather the storm of surging consumer demand.

He noted that meat, chili, and rice are typically the primary drivers that cause inflation to go through the roof during the holiday season.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), we hope these three main commodities won't see any significant price hikes in Jakarta," he added.

Looking at the big picture, the Jakarta government is also gearing up for long-term food security. Dharma Jaya plans to manage land in Ciangir, Banten, as an independent cattle fattening and fodder production hub.

"They want to manage a site for grass and cattle fattening in Ciangir. We are currently processing that," he explained.

He believes that by cutting out the middleman and managing livestock directly, Jakarta’s food needs will be more securely met.

Dharma Jaya President Director, Raditya Endra Budiman added that meat reserves in Jakarta are currently holding steady at 1,000 tons, supplemented by a live inventory of approximately 1,500 cattle.

"While this latest shipment saw 590 head unloaded, our total live stock now sits at around 1,500. This is what we will use to shore up supplies for the Ramadan period," he explained.

Jakarta’s daily demand for beef and buffalo typically hovers around 65 tons. However, consumption is expected to tick up by about four percent as the city hits the peak of the holiday season.