Beef Prices Remain High in East Java
15 August 2013 13:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - Beef prices remain high in several regions in East Java after the end of the Eid-al Fitr celebrations. Wonokromo Market’s meat vendor coordinator H. Sairi informed the price of the super quality beef at the traditional market inTanah Merah sub-district, Bangkalan regency, had reached Rp130,000 (US$ 12.6) per kilogram.
Meanwhile, the price of the second quality beef ranges from Rp100,000 (US$ 9.7)-Rp110,000 (US$ 10.7) per kilogram. Sairi said he was baffled beef prices in Madura were higher than those in Surabaya. “At Wonokromo Market, the highest price for the super quality beef is only Rp95,000 (US$ 9.2) per kilogram,” said Sairi, Thursday, August 15, 2013.
Prices of fatty meat and standard quality beef in Tanah Merah sub-district are set around Rp80,000 (US$ 7.8) per kilogram. Sairi said Madura was one of the biggest hubs of cattle farms in East Java.
Sairi said the high beef prices in Madura ensued from the low supply of slaughter cattle in the region, which led to rocketing prices of cows per kilogram. Today, prices of cows range from Rp37,000 (US$ 3.6) per kilogram. “Even in Madura the price remains high despite Madura being popular as the center of cattle farming. This is solid proof that cows are rare,” Sairi explained.
East Java Industry and Trade Agency chief Budi Setiawan claimed beef prices in a number of areas in East Java had plummeted as imported beef was sold to Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek). He said the sale of slaughter cows from East Java would cease once the demand of beef in Greater Jakarta was met.
Budi said results of his team’s field surveys revealed the price of the super quality beef in a number of traditional markets was around Rp90,000 (US$ 8.7)-Rp95,000 (US$ 9.2). “The supply of slaughter cows in East Java is in abundance, which is why beef prices were lower,” he explained.
Budi reminded the standard of beef prices in the market was not determined by the price of the super quality beef, but by those of the second quality and fatty beef. The reason was the public mostly consume either the second quality, fatty, or standard quality beef.
Budi said the super quality beef was normally purchased by restaurants and hotels. The price of the second quality beef ranges around Rp85,000 (US$ 8.2)-Rp90,000 (US$ 8.7) per kilogram, while fatty beef Rp75,000 (US$ 7.28) per kilogram. “The price has dropped by Rp2,000 (US$ 0.2) per kilogram,” he said.
DIANANTA P. SUMEDI
