Jakarta. Businesses are unhappy with Indonesia’s decision to slash the meat import quota for private companies to just 30,000 tons this year.

Indonesia is planning to import around 297,000 tons of meat throughout 2026. The country will allocate 250,000 tons of that quota to state-run enterprises, namely: Berdikari and Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI). The details are as follows: 100,000 tons of Indian buffalo meat, 75,000 tons of Brazilian beef, and another 75,000 tons of meat imported from other countries. About 17,000 tons of allowed meat imports will go to industrial use. As many as 108 private importers, however, only got to bring in around a total of 30,000 tons — a huge decline compared to last year’s quota of 180,000 tons. 

Business associations are now urging the government to review the quota. The Indonesian Animal Protein Entrepreneurs Association (APPHI) fears such limitations can deal a fatal blow to the local hotel and restaurant industry.

“The quota is far from enough. … [Hotels and restaurants] have specific meat needs that state-run enterprises cannot necessarily meet, and they play a major role in our economy at a time when other sectors of the real economy are on a decline,” APPHI’s representative  Marina Ratna DK recently said.

Likewise, the Indonesian Meat Entrepreneurs and Processors Association (APPDI) warns that the policy can affect business continuity. APPDI’s executive director Teguh Boediyana, revealed that companies usually prepare their respective business plans based on the previous year’s minimum import quota.

“A small quota leads to disruptions. Entrepreneurs could even consider cutting the workforce as the easiest way out,” Teguh said.

Both Marina and Teguh believe that the government should be transparent about any changes to the quota.  They also demanded the removal of import quotas for beef following President Prabowo Subianto's order to get rid of caps on imported products that "affect the livelihoods of many people". 

“Providing meat is a task that both private and state-run enterprises share. Except for special assignments, such as disasters or price stabilization, or even Indian buffalo meat imports,” Teguh said.

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