TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah weakened against the US dollar at the close of trading on January 6, 2026. Two main factors drove this decline: the ongoing conflict between the United States and Venezuela and rising domestic commodity prices.
“This evening, the rupiah closed weaker by 18 points at Rp16,758 from the previous close of Rp16,740,” said Ibrahim Assuaibi, Director of PT Traze Andalan Futures, in a written statement on Tuesday.
For tomorrow’s session, experts expect the rupiah to fluctuate but remain weak, likely trading between Rp16,750 and Rp16,780 per US dollar.
External events are heavily influencing the currency. Ibrahim pointed to the leadership change in Venezuela, where Delcy Rodriguez took over as the interim president. This shift followed the arrest of Nicolas Maduro by US forces on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Maduro is currently detained in New York, facing drug trafficking charges.
The arrest happened without approval from the US Congress, which surprised global markets this week. Additionally, US President Donald Trump announced he would take “temporary” control of Venezuela and planned to open the country’s oil taps to benefit the United States.
On the domestic front, inflation in Jakarta played a role in the rupiah’s slide. The inflation rate for 2025 stood at 2.63 percent, with the food, beverage, and tobacco sectors seeing the highest gains. Annual inflation rose because of higher commodity prices, which pushed up the price index for several consumer groups.
Specifically, the index for food, drinks, and tobacco rose by 3.67 percent. Other factors included the year-end transition, religious holidays, and the rising price of gold. “Several other events also affected inflation in Jakarta throughout 2025,” Ibrahim noted.
Read: 3 Factors That Could Push Inflation Above 3% in the First Quarter
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