Jakarta. Jakarta is preparing to import 7,500 live cattle from Australia in 2026 to strengthen meat supplies through regional government-owned food company Perumda Dharma Jaya, as authorities seek to stabilize food availability and prices ahead of the Ramadan and Idulfitri period starting in February.

Dharma Jaya President Director Raditya Endra Budiman said the import plan is awaiting final approval from the Trade Ministry. While import recommendations have been secured, administrative processing at the ministry has yet to be completed.

“We are still waiting for import approval from the Trade Ministry. Hopefully it will be issued by the end of January. Once the permit is granted, we can begin the purchasing process,” Raditya said on Wednesday.

He said permits for live cattle imports must be renewed annually and cannot be carried over from the previous year. If approvals are finalized on schedule, purchases could begin in February, with shipments expected to arrive two to three weeks after transactions are completed.

The cattle imports will be carried out in stages, in line with available holding capacity. Dharma Jaya’s existing cattle facilities in Serang, Banten, can currently accommodate around 1,300 head of cattle.

“In the initial phase, out of the total 7,500 cattle, around 750 head are expected to arrive first,” Raditya said.

Capacity Expansion
To support the import program, Dharma Jaya is also seeking additional land to expand its holding facilities, targeting extra capacity for about 1,000 cattle. The current facility in Serang cannot be expanded, as the area has been designated for agrotourism.

Raditya said cattle purchases will be conducted on a quarterly basis, reflecting strong market absorption. Existing stock has been almost entirely taken up.

“Our previous stock has been fully absorbed. We currently have around 400 cattle remaining, and those have already been allocated for the upcoming fasting month,” he said.

High demand has been driven not only by Jakarta but also by orders from surrounding regions, including Bogor, Banten, and other parts of West Java. Demand for imported cattle has also risen as traders cite genetic factors and quality advantages compared with locally sourced cattle.

“The demand for imported cattle comes directly from traders, and we adjust our supply to market needs,” Raditya said.