KAI Transports 13,920 Tons of Fertilizer Through July 2026, Strengthening the Agricultural Supply Chain and Food Security
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (KAI) continues to strengthen its role in Indonesia's agricultural supply chain by providing rail-based fertilizer transportation services. This role has become increasingly important as public attention grows over rice price developments and the need to safeguard food availability for Indonesian households.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), rice was one of the main commodities contributing to inflation in July 2026. This highlights that keeping food prices under control requires coordinated efforts across the entire supply chain—from ensuring the availability of agricultural inputs for farmers and maintaining smooth distribution, to increasing production, strengthening food reserves, and delivering food supplies to communities.
From January to July 2026, KAI transported 13,920 tons of fertilizer, an increase of 2.43 percent compared to 13,590 tons during the same period in 2025.
An even stronger increase was recorded on a monthly basis. In July 2026 alone, KAI transported 1,800 tons of fertilizer, five times higher than the 360 tons transported in July 2025. This represents a 400 percent year-on-year increase.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said that fertilizer distribution is a vital part of the food production process. Ensuring fertilizer is available in the right quantities and at the appropriate time helps farmers maintain land productivity and better plan their planting schedules.
"Public concern over rice prices must be addressed through well-coordinated efforts from upstream to downstream. KAI contributes on the logistics side by ensuring reliable fertilizer transportation services so that the agricultural supply chain operates smoothly, safely, and on schedule," Anne said.
In 2026, the Government allocated 9.55 million tons of subsidized fertilizer. As of June 25, 2026, 54.28 percent of the allocation had been distributed. Since late 2025, the Government has also reduced the Highest Retail Price (HET) of subsidized fertilizer by around 20 percent to help lower farmers' production costs and strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
According to Anne, government policies on fertilizer provision must be supported by a reliable transportation and logistics network. Rail transportation offers high carrying capacity, scheduled operations, and the ability to move large volumes of goods consistently.
"Strong collaboration among the Government, state-owned enterprises, fertilizer producers, logistics providers, regional governments, and farmer groups is essential to ensure fertilizer reaches those who need it. KAI is ready to fulfill its role in the logistics chain by managing train operations with safety and reliability as top priorities," Anne added.
On the downstream side, the Government is also accelerating the distribution of rice through its Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, as well as providing rice assistance to communities. These initiatives complement broader efforts to strengthen agricultural production and improve the distribution of farming inputs as part of maintaining food supplies and protecting people's purchasing power.
Anne emphasized that fertilizer transportation is an integral part of Indonesia's broader food security ecosystem. The availability and price stability of rice are influenced by many factors, including seasonal conditions, agricultural productivity, production costs, distribution efficiency, market conditions, and national food reserves.
"KAI understands that rice is served on the dining tables of millions of Indonesian families every day. Behind every meal are farmers preparing their fields, workers supporting agricultural production, and many stakeholders ensuring the distribution process runs smoothly. Every fertilizer shipment transported by KAI carries the responsibility of supporting the sustainability of Indonesia's food production," Anne concluded.
VP Corporate Communication KAI