Beef Exceeds Rp 120,000 per Kilogram in Ternate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Beef prices in Ternate, North Maluku have exceeded Rp 120,000 per kilogram - up from its' previous average at Rp 105,000 per kilogram. According to Yakub Soleman, a 47-years old meat vendor in Gamalama Market in Ternate, prices are soaring because beef supplies from Halmahera and other trading hubs in the area are often disrupted.

According to Yakub, in the past two weeks, stocks usually arrive one day after the orders are placed - which means that there are certain times where they could not sell as the stocks have yet to arrive.

"Beef stocks are arriving later than usual, which drives up prices - but this is not expected to last very long," said Yakub on Monday, August 24, 2015, but added that even when demand increases near religious holidays, supply shortages have almost never happened.

"Ternate residents do not consume as much beef as those who live in other regions - as such, there is enough, in terms of supplies at present," said Yakub.

Ibrahim, the Head of North Maluku's Butcher Association, said that stocks in Ternate is enough to meet two months of demand - which means that a shortage is not likely to happen.

"Reserves are secure, so prices are relatively stable. Vendors who raises their prices are just adjusting to conditions in the market," said Ibrahim.

In normal conditions, according to Ibrahim, a meat vendor in Ternate usually keeps a stock of 10 cows - at approximately Rp 6 million each. These cows come from local stocks bred in Halmahera, North Maluku. "We don't ship cows from elsewhere, so whatever are sold in the market are local stocks from around Ternate," Ibrahim said.

BUDHY NURGIANTO