Malaysia Keeps Local White Rice Price Unchanged As Buffer Stock Remains Enough For Six Months

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Malaysia has maintained the price of Local White Rice while confirming that the country’s rice buffer stock is sufficient to meet domestic needs for up to six months. The government said the supply of the staple food remains stable despite global geopolitical uncertainty and rising pressure on food supply chains.

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the government’s priority is to ensure that essential food supplies are not disrupted and that consumers are not burdened by unreasonable price increases. He said the current rice supply remains adequate and that food security continues to be closely monitored.

The price of Local White Rice remains fixed at RM2.60 per kilogram, despite previous proposals from industry players to raise the price to RM3.60 per kilogram. The decision is seen as an important measure to protect consumers, especially households that rely on rice as a daily food staple.

At the same time, the government acknowledged the pressure faced by paddy farmers due to weather changes and rising production costs. Akmal said RM45.98 million had been distributed through the Ploughing Incentive for Paddy Farmers, benefiting 118,908 farmers in Peninsular Malaysia.

The government is also paying close attention to the risk of higher fertiliser prices, which could increase production costs in the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is working to diversify input sources, strengthen assistance for farmers and improve industry regulation.

Akmal said the Fertiliser Bill is expected to be tabled in early 2027 to strengthen governance, quality control and market transparency, while improving the resilience of agricultural input supplies. The move is expected to support farmers and reduce vulnerability to global cost pressures.

The government is also monitoring the impact of hot weather and dam water levels, as both factors could affect agricultural production and consumer supply. Akmal said monitoring efforts will be strengthened so that mitigation measures can be carried out before production and supply are affected.

The assurance comes as global markets continue to face uncertainty involving energy, food and geopolitical risks. For Malaysia, maintaining rice price stability is not only a consumer protection measure, but also part of a broader food security strategy.