Finance Minister Claims No Calls Received on Plastic Raw Material Import Duties

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has spoken out in response to the rising plastic prices that are beginning to be complained about by manufacturing entrepreneurs to tempeh and tofu traders.

Purbaya admitted that up to now, there has been no discussion or specific talk with the Minister of Industry regarding the matter. Although entrepreneurs have requested import duty exemptions for raw materials.

“It’s like this, why is it rising, right? Because the raw materials are also rising, right? If I’m not mistaken, it’s from naphtha and petroleum. When it rises, it rises too. But if it falls later, it will fall too,” he said to reporters at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday night (8/4/2026).

“So, if there is a policy, we will certainly consider it. But they haven’t come to me yet, so I don’t know,” Purbaya continued.

Furthermore, Purbaya admitted that he has not received any submission requesting import duty exemptions for plastic industry raw material imports.

“Who are they asking, they haven’t asked me,” he said.

“(But has there been a discussion from the Ministry of Industry?) Not yet, he has never called me,” Purbaya emphasised.

Previously, Secretary General of the Indonesian Olefin Aromatic and Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) Fajar Budiono revealed that the current market conditions are still very dynamic and difficult to predict amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In the midst of this situation, industry players hope that the government can maintain the stability of raw material supplies so that production activities are not disrupted. One of the main concerns is the smooth distribution of naphtha, which is the primary need for this sector.

“We hope the naphtha supply runs smoothly,” Fajar said to CNBC Indonesia on Monday (30/3/2026).

In addition, business players are also starting to look at alternative raw materials such as LPG to maintain production continuity. However, this effort is considered to require policy support to make it more competitive.

Compared to fiscal policies such as relaxations, the availability of gas is deemed more crucial to maintain efficiency and competitiveness of the petrochemical industry amid global pressures.

“Zero per cent import duty on LPG as an alternative raw material. Gas supply,” Fajar said.