Indonesia might have to import from other sources too because Thailand and Vietnam may not be able to fill the 1.5-million-tonne demand within Indonesia's timeframe, he said.
Indonesia wanted the rice between November and January. Its own rice harvest season would start in March, he said.
"The 1.5 million tonnes that Indonesia needs is white rice 5% and 15% broken, and it must be new rice. It is good the Thai rice harvest late this year has a market," he said.