The outbreak of coronavirus in China has brought cross-border food trade with Indonesia to a complete halt.

This has resulted in the price of garlic in the city of Padang in West Sumatra Province to rise significantly, even reaching 100%.

“This comes after the uncertainty following the coronavirus. We will stop food supply imports for the moment from the country that is infected by the virus,” said Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto on Monday (February 3).

Previously selling at around 25,000 to 30,000 rupiah per kilogram, garlic is currently being sold at 35,000 to 50,000 rupiah per kilogram.

According to local reports, the supplies of imported garlic in the Kramat Jati Central Market in Jakarta also experienced shortage.

The footage was recorded on Tuesday (February 4).

The price of garlic in the city of Padang in West Sumatra Province jumped significantly, even reaching 100%.

Currently garlic is sold at 50,000 rupiah per kilogram, from previously only around 25,000 to 30,000 rupiah per kilogram.

According to a number of traders, the price surge occurred since three days ago, due to the flow of supply. Currently, traders' stocks are running low and is expected to run out in the next few days. Even that condition is expected to make the price of garlic soar.

Garlic itself is a commodity imported from China. Traders suspect that there is no supply due to the corona virus outbreak in China, resulting in the export of goods.
Even now the Indonesian government has temporarily closed imports of food and beverage ingredients and garlic from China, in an effort to anticipate the absence of the corona virus.

SOT : Ida / Pedagang
Soar dramatically. Around 50,000 rupiah (one kilogram).
TRANSLATE : Heard this item is from China. Now in China there is the virus (corona). That didn't make it totally new today. Yesterday was still there. The only thing left is this stock.

SOT : Vera / Pedagang
TRANSLATE : Our stock is just that again. Not too much. After that nothing else. Don't really know whether to enter again or not.