Australian cattle needed to correct a beef shortage in Indonesia are expected to be shipped this week, authorities in Jakarta say.
Bulog, the state logistics agency, was tasked with the imports after the beef price skyrocketed, and cartels were blamed.
Also blamed was the Indonesian government's decision to dramatically cut its quota for live cattle imports from Australia this quarter as a move to protect local producers.
Bulog commercial director Fadzri Sentosa says permits for 50,000 head of slaughter-ready cattle have been processed and they will be sent over the next four months, beginning this week.
"We're focusing on cattle for slaughter because our task is to immediately get it to enter the markets," he told AAP, saying that should be in about two to three weeks.
The price of beef is falling from highs of Rp140,000 per kilo ($A14) to about Rp110,000 ($A11) in Jakarta.
Indonesia's new Trade Minister Tom Lembong says he's considering flooding the market with 200,000-300,000 imported feeder cattle in the final quarter this year if other price stabilisation measures don't work.
Jakarta police investigating the "beef mafia" allegations say they've found evidence of cartel activity and continue to build their case.
"From the seven feed lotters we've investigated, there are three feed lotters taking full control; they're setting the price," police special detective Agung Marlianto told Indonesian news website detik.com on Tuesday.
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