The issue of sugar imports has become a hot topic of discussion. However, this is not a new phenomenon limited to Tom Lembong’s tenure; Indonesia has continued importing sugar in recent times.
The numbers are staggering, and this situation clearly contradicts Indonesia’s identity as an agrarian country.
Even this year, Indonesia continues to import sugar from various countries. Ironically, Indonesia holds the top position as the world’s largest sugar importer.
World’s Sugar Import Rankings
As mentioned earlier, Indonesia ranks first as the world’s largest sugar importer.
According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Indonesia imported up to 5.55 million tons of sugar as of May 2024.
The infographic above highlights that Indonesia’s sugar imports surpass those of China, despite China’s much larger population of 1.4 billion people.
Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia imported 3.66 million tons of sugar during the first nine months of 2024. The value of these sugar imports reached IDR 33 trillion.
Achieving Food Self-Sufficiency
Sugar is not the only commodity Indonesia imports in large quantities. Other food commodities like rice, corn, and even salt are also imported.
Food self-sufficiency is one of the key targets set by President Prabowo Subianto. Over the next four years, Indonesia aims to become more self-reliant in meeting its food needs.