Indonesia reported that it had imported $61.2 million worth of beef in January as the Muslim-majority country inched closer to the fasting month of Ramadan. Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, the acting head of BPS, told a press briefing on Monday (17/02/2025) that Indonesia imported approximately 18,220 tons of beef in January which  is equivalent to US$61.2 million in value.Volume-wise, Indonesia imported 27,250 tons of beef in December 2024, thus marking a month-to-month decline. From a value standpoint, beef import had also dropped around 39.6 percent compared to US$101.4 million recorded in December.Indonesia is opening its doors for foreign investors who wish to invest in the country’s cattle farming sector. This way, Southeast Asia’s largest economy does not need to spend state money to bring in higher quality cattle to improve its milk and beef production. It will also likely reduce beef import. Indonesia aims to import 200,000 dairy cows and another 200,000 beef cattle in 2025 through this private investor scheme. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman admitted that Indonesia would need an extra 880,000 tons of beef to meet its national demand. These figures already take into account the additional demand from President Prabowo Subianto’s signature free school meal roll out. Indonesia also plans to continue distributing these government-aided meals during Ramadan, although it will make some adjustments to its distribution.Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-imports-612-million-worth-of-beef-as-ramadan-nears   (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Jakarta Globe, 17 February 2025