Not Dates: Garments Become the Largest Commodity Shipped by Hajj Pilgrims
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance has revealed that garments have become the largest commodity in shipments of goods by Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia throughout 2025.
Head of Import Section III of the DJBC Ministry of Finance, Cindhe Marjuang Praja, stated that based on DJBC data, garment products dominate the shipments with a contribution of 32.5 percent or valued at $643,920 from the total value of foreign exchange from Hajj pilgrims’ goods shipments.
Cindhe explained that goods shipped by Hajj pilgrims are generally dominated by textile products and consumer needs.
“In terms of these goods, we can perhaps categorise their volume; this might be the top 10, the top 10, with garments being the largest, including carpets, blouses, shirts, and so on; that’s the most common, probably mostly abayas or perhaps gamises for men, for example,” said Cindhe during a virtual media briefing on Customs Services and Facilities for Hajj Pilgrims, Thursday (16/4/2026).
However, the DJBC notes that the utilisation of goods shipping facilities by Hajj pilgrims remains relatively low. From a total of around 221,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims, only 17,232 pilgrims are recorded as having sent goods back to the homeland.
In terms of entry points, the largest shipments were recorded through KPUBC Soekarno-Hatta with 3,306 customs documents (consignment notes/CN) valued at $300,877.
Meanwhile, through KPPBC Pasar Baru Post Office, 17,814 CNs were recorded with a value reaching $1.68 million.
“Regarding collections, indeed last year some pilgrims sent more than twice; the hope is that this can be informed to be optimised,” said Cindhe.
From a fiscal perspective, most shipments received relaxation facilities. A total of 20,932 CNs with a foreign exchange value of $1.96 million obtained exemptions from import duties and taxes.
Meanwhile, only 188 CNs were subject to levies because they exceeded the provisions, with a foreign exchange value of $21,700. From that amount, the state obtained import duties of Rp 24.69 million and VAT of Rp 38.58 million.
“Now, for the fiscal relaxation provided, the calculation is approximately Rp 2.4 billion for duties, Rp 3.8 billion for VAT, and Rp 1.7 billion for income tax,” said Cindhe.
The top 10 commodities shipped by Hajj pilgrims are dominated by various types of garment products, followed by carpets, food, perfumes, to travel equipment such as suitcases and bags.
The government hopes that in the future, the utilisation of goods shipping facilities by Hajj pilgrims can be more optimal, while still adhering to the applicable provisions.