Seputarkarawang.com - Karawang, The Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), gave a serious response regarding traders' complaints regarding the spike in plastic prices that occurred nationally. While conducting an inspection at Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, with the Minister of Trade Budi Susanto, Zulhas found reports that the price of plastic per pack was now experiencing an unreasonable increase. This phenomenon is said to be no longer just an ordinary increase, but rather a sharp spike which is starting to erode the profit margins of small traders in various regions, including the impact which is starting to be felt in the traditional markets of Karawang, Tuesday (31/3/2026).This spike in plastic prices was recorded at IDR 6,000 per pack for various sizes. If previously the average price of plastic was around IDR 17,000, now traders have to dig deeper into their pockets, up to IDR 23,000 per pack. The increase that occurred before the Eid momentum forced business actors to spend extra capital, while it was difficult for them to increase product selling prices to consumers amidst a still fluctuating economic situation.
According to Zulhas' explanation, the main cause of the soaring price of plastic bags is the increase in the price of plastic ore on the global market. This was triggered by the skyrocketing world price of fuel oil (BBM) due to conflict tensions in the Middle East region that have not subsided. Considering that plastic is a derivative product of petroleum, fluctuations in global energy prices automatically put intense pressure on production costs at the manufacturer level which then spreads to retailers and final consumers.In response to this increasingly burdensome situation for traders, the Government plans to hold special discussions by summoning the relevant parties in the plastic industry supply chain. This step was taken to trace the exact cause behind this sudden and massive increase. Zulhas emphasized the importance of maintaining price stability for trade supporting goods so as not to cause a domino effect on rising prices of other foods which are highly dependent on plastic packaging.At the local level, MSMEs and market traders in Karawang are expected to remain wise in managing stock and start considering alternative packaging that is more environmentally friendly if possible. This increase in plastic prices is a reminder of the vulnerability of the domestic economy to international political dynamics. The government promises to continue to monitor price movements in the field to ensure that the availability of business support materials remains affordable for the wider community amidst the challenges of the global energy crisis in 2026.
