Jakarta. Indonesia has clinched a deal to export 1,000 tons of rice to close neighbor Malaysia, as Jakarta boasts self-sufficiency in the staple food.

The state food procurement agency Bulog and Malaysia’s Padi dan Beras Borneo Sdn Bhd recently inked a memorandum of understanding for that sale. The shipments will include 1,000 tons of commercial premium-grade rice. Estimates show that Sarawak needs around 200,000 tons of rice a year. 

“We once exported to Palestine and Egypt. And now, we are exporting rice to Malaysia,” Amran said.

Amran also claimed that he had just spoken to his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Sabu on speeding up the imports. The price tag of the exported rice is 3.9 Malaysian ringgit or Rp 17,000 ($0.96) per kilogram.

“[Minister Mohamad Sabu] has told me there is a possibility of raising the exports, given that Malaysia needs between 1.5 million and 1.7 million tons of rice,” Amran said.

Amran went on to say that he had ordered Bulog to maintain the quality of the exports ahead of the shipments.

"If God is willing, we should have enough [food] supplies," Amran said, when asked about Indonesia's readiness to survive the drier El ⁠Niño amid the export orders.

According to government estimates, Indonesia’s rice reserves managed by Bulog amount to around 5.2 million tons. In 2025, Indonesia’s agricultural exports totaled Rp 756.7 trillion or $42.4 billion. Indonesia-Malaysia overall trade reached almost $24.2 billion in 2025, with commerce already hitting the $14 billion mark in the first half of this year. 

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