Trade Minister claims egg prices stabilized due to 'Free Nutritious Meal' program

Indonesia's Trade Minister Budi Santoso asserts that the prices of several basic commodities have stabilized following the recommencement of the "Makan Bergizi Gratis" (MBG) or Free Nutritious Meal program after the school holidays. He noted that egg prices, in particular, have recovered.

"Yesterday, the price had indeed dropped, but now absorption is better because, among other things, MBG has resumed," Santoso stated in Yogyakarta on Thursday, July 23, 2026. He explained that egg prices had fallen to around Rp 26,000 per kilogram when the MBG program was on hiatus, despite the highest retail price (HET) being Rp 30,000 per kilogram. "Now, egg prices are around Rp 28,000, so it's good, the price is not too low," he added.

Santoso highlighted the potential long-term negative impact of prices dropping too low, which can discourage production and lead to scarcity and uncontrolled price surges. He views the MBG program as a crucial tool for balancing market supply and demand. Previously, without such programs, basic commodity prices were highly volatile due to a lack of certainty.

The minister further explained that consistent and increasing production, supported by programs like MBG, benefits the entire economic ecosystem, not just the livestock sector but also agriculture and other related industries. "Not only livestock farming, but also agriculture and so on, this involvement is certainly very good," he said.