China Remains Main Source of Indonesia's Garment Imports
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) acknowledged that the import value of garments under HS codes 61 and 62 increased by 55.46% and 29.61% month-on-month (mtm). By country of origin, HS 61 goods, consisting of knitted garments and accessories, come from China, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Italy. Meanwhile, HS 62 goods, comprising non-knitted garments and accessories, come mostly from China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Morocco. In fact, imports of ready-made garments have increased, particularly HS 61 knitted garments and accessories and HS 62
Changes in Indonesia's Best-Selling Electric Vehicles
Chinese EV Company Plans to Build Charging Facilities in Indonesia
President Jokowi to Attend Inauguration of Alumina Smelter in West Kalimantan
Indonesia Customs Reveals Content Data of Containers Stranded at Ports
Southeast Asia's First Frozen French Fry Factory Begins Operations
This year, PT Indo Agro Plus (PT IAP) is preparing to start production at its frozen french fry factory in West Java. PT IAP is a holding company that will operate the first and only frozen french fry factory in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, using local potato raw materials. Not only in Indonesia, PT IAP is also a pioneer in the Southeast Asian region and the only frozen french fry factory using domestic raw materials. PT IAP's Chief Director stated that everything from seeding, planting, to processing harvested potatoes into frozen french fries is done in Indonesia.
Indonesia's 1.2 Million Ton Annual Capacity Glory Metal Joint Venture Smelting Project Officially Starts
On August 9, the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1.2 million ton annual capacity joint venture smelting project of PT Indonesia Glory Metal. Chairman of Tsingshan Industrial Board Xiang Guangda and Executive Director of India's Jindal Stainless Group Abhyuday Jindal attended the ceremony. PT Indonesia Glory Metal is jointly invested by Tsingshan Industrial and India's Jindal Stainless Group, covering a planned area of 150,000 square meters with an annual planned output of 1.2 million tons of stainless steel. This is another fruitful result of their international deep cooperation and complementary integration in industrial technology and market expansion, following the Lanka and Kezan metal projects in the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park.
Indonesia's Nickel Downstream Exports Soar to 510 Trillion IDR
President Joko Widodo showcased the results of his "pride program," in this case the downstreaming of nickel, which has significantly increased the export value of downstream products. The export value of nickel downstream products has soared multiple times, from only 33 trillion IDR to 510 trillion IDR. At the inauguration of the lithium battery anode material factory owned by PT Indonesia BTR New Energy Materials in Kendal, East Java, he stated, as Coordinating Minister Luhut said, that the current nickel export value has reached 34 billion USD, jumping from the previous 33 trillion IDR to approximately 510 trillion IDR. By blocking the export of nickel ore products abroad to carry out downstream development, his policy has brought benefits, including the lawsuit from the European Union (EU) to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Although they lost, the country is a sovereign state where national interests come first, and they cannot be dictated by anyone.
YLKI Urges Consumers to Beware of Illegal Imported Food from China
The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) urges the public to be vigilant against illegal food and beverage products from China, as these products can harm people's health. A YLKI researcher stated that people must be more careful when purchasing food, and one way is to check the distribution permit from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to avoid buying illegal food. He called on consumers not to buy food or beverages without a BPOM distribution permit. He highlighted numerous health problem cases caused by illegal food from China in recent decades, due to frequent quality and safety issues in such illegal food products.
Indonesia's Special Task Force Seizes IDR 46.1 Billion in Illegal Imported Goods
The Illegal Import Special Task Force, consisting of the Ministry of Trade, Customs and Taxation, and the Attorney General's Office (Kejagung), has confiscated illegal imported products worth IDR 46.1 billion. The Minister of Trade, who also serves as a member of the advisory board of the Illegal Import Special Task Force, revealed that the illegal imported goods were seized because they did not comply with the import compliance requirements of applicable laws and regulations, including lacking import permit (PI) documents, import inspection report (LS) documents, or import registration numbers. As a follow-up to the establishment of the task force, as stipulated in the decree, the task force for monitoring the implementation of import trade procedures for certain goods has taken action.
Indonesia's Largest Battery Anode Material Factory Begins Production
On August 7, 2024, the integrated project with an annual output of 80,000 tons of lithium battery anode material, invested by BTR in Indonesia, held a production commencement ceremony at the Kendal Park in the Central Java Industrial Belt. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, accompanied by five cabinet ministers, personally unveiled the factory and expressed great admiration for the efficient implementation and start-up of the BTR project. In October 2023, BTR and Singapore's Stellar company jointly invested to build an 80,000-ton annual production base for lithium battery anode materials at the Tsingshan IMIP Park in Central Sulawesi and the Kendal KIP Park in the Central Java Industrial Belt.
Indonesian Government Plans to Tax Processed Foods for Health Reasons
The Joko Widodo administration has enacted new health regulations, one of which imposes excise tax on processed foods, including ready-to-eat processed foods. The regulation is contained in Article 194 of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 concerning the Implementing Regulations of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health. The central government may determine excise tax on certain processed foods according to legal provisions. Processed foods refer to food or beverages processed by certain methods or means, whether or not additional ingredients are added. Meanwhile, ready-to-eat processed foods refer to food and/or beverages that have been processed and can be provided directly at or outside business premises, such as food services provided in catering, hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, canteens, street vendors, mobile food stalls, and similar businesses. The Director of Communication and Service User Guidance at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance stated that the provisions in the PP are still only based on recommendations from the Ministry of Health, and DJBC has not yet conducted research on processed goods as new excisable goods (BKC).