F&B Industry Hit Worst by Transport Ministry's Holiday Truck Ban  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The food and beverage industry is predicted to incur the highest losses after the Transport Minister issued Circular Letter No. 48/2015, which bans trucks from operating throughout the 2015 Christmas and 2016 New Year's holiday period. "Retail business will experience some setback too - but not as directly as the F&B industry," said the Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Retailers Association (APRINDO), Tutum Rahanta, on Monday, December 28, 2015.

Rahanta explained that the ban - which covers all trucks except those carrying fuel, gas, livestock, fertilisers, unprocessed milk, post, basic necessities, and trucks carrying exported/imported goods to and from the harbour - is expected to disrupt the supply chain behind the food processing industry. "In the end, retailers will experience losses, as the supply of goods to stores will be affected," Rahanta said.

That said, the Director for Basic and Strategic Commodities for the Trade Ministry, Robert James Bintaryo, dismissed such claims - stating that the industry is well-prepared for such occurrences, as it happens almost every year. "Businesses have already stocked up ahead of the ban, so it really isn't a problem," Robert said.

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