Malaysia Seeks to Import Rice from Indonesia, But Jakarta Prioritizes Domestic Supply

Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, met with Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, YB Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad Bin Sabu, in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 22, 2025). One of the key topics discussed during the bilateral meeting was Malaysia’s interest in importing rice from Indonesia.

However, Minister Amran made it clear that Indonesia is currently unable to export rice due to its commitment to safeguarding domestic food security.

“It was interesting—they asked whether they could import rice from us. I responded that for now, we’re prioritizing maintaining our national stock,” Amran stated after the meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Malaysia More Interested in Adopting Indonesia’s Advanced Agricultural Technology

Minister Bin Sabu acknowledged the potential for future rice imports from Indonesia, but emphasized that the primary focus now is learning from Indonesia’s success in agricultural innovation.

“Not yet, but we’ll discuss it. We currently import coconut, vegetables, and aquaculture products. For rice, we’re more interested in the advanced technologies used here in Indonesia—yields have reached 12 to 13 tons, with an average of around 7 tons per hectare,” he explained.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope for stronger collaboration between Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly in agricultural technology. He also emphasized the need for ASEAN unity in the face of global economic uncertainty, including the impact of unpredictable tariffs imposed by major powers such as the United States.

“In ASEAN, we must strengthen our ties across all sectors, especially as we confront new challenges like the sudden tariff changes from countries like the U.S.,” Bin Sabu concluded.