Gotrade News - The soaring cost of packaging plastic poses a significant challenge for SMEs in Indonesia. This issue is particularly affecting the food and beverage sector, heavily reliant on plastic as a primary packaging material.
The price hike following the post-Ramadan period has hit small vendors hard. Slamet, a street vendor in Sleman, has been directly impacted with plastic prices rising from IDR 36,000 to IDR 42,000 per pack. Nonetheless, he has yet to increase his product prices.
Traders face a financial dilemma. Keeping prices steady means accepting diminished profits, while raising prices risks losing loyal customers accustomed to the old rates.
A similar concern is voiced by Tari, a laundry entrepreneur who relies on plastic for bulk service packages. With plastic prices reaching IDR 800,000 per 20 kg, profit margins are squeezed in line with rising operational costs.
Meanwhile, Teguh, a ‘pempek’ seller in South Jakarta, reveals that plastic prices, usually IDR 6,000 per pack, have now surged to IDR 10,000. This situation makes pricing decisions increasingly difficult for many small business owners.
Without government intervention, many SMEs feel trapped in an unprofitable situation. They long for a return of plastic prices to normal levels as a beacon of hope for those affected.
As this problem persists, business owners are urging solutions to alleviate the burden, such as subsidies or price cap policies. Such steps are anticipated to maintain the stability of small businesses, the backbone of the national economy.
Undoubtedly, this surge in plastic prices highlights the vulnerabilities of domestic raw material supply chains. Without concrete solutions, many small enterprises face the threat of instability amidst uncertainty.
Reference:
- MetroTV, Pedagang pasar Palmerah keluhkan harga produk berbahan plastik naik 70. Accessed on April 13, 2026
- MetroTV, Krisis Energi Harga Plastik Ikut Melambung. Accessed on April 13, 2026
- Kompas, Harga Plastik Melambung, Pelaku UMKM Bagai Makan Buah Simalakama. Accessed on April 13, 2026
Featured Image: GPT Image 1.5
