Regarding Relaxation of Import Duties on Plastic Raw Materials, Purbaya Suggests Industry Players Consult Kemenperin
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that, to date, there have been no requests for exemption or relaxation of import duty rates on plastic raw materials from industry players in Indonesia.
“Ask (for import duty relief) to Kemenperin, then to me. That (plastic price) rises because the raw materials also rise, but when it falls, it will fall too,” said Purbaya at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
This affirmation relates to the sharp rise in prices of various plastic products domestically, in line with disruptions to imports of raw materials due to the conflict between Iran and the United States (US). The increase has occurred since the second week of Ramadan and continues every week.
Therefore, Purbaya suggested that plastic industry players need to discuss first with the Ministry of Industry regarding requests for relief on import duties for raw materials such as naphtha and LPG.
He explained that the rise in plastic prices is temporary, influenced by global raw material prices. This is an impact of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which are pressuring logistics costs.
Purbaya added that, should the government introduce a new policy to protect the domestic plastic industry, it would be temporary in nature.
“If there is a policy, we will certainly consider it. But they haven’t come to me yet, so I don’t know,” said Purbaya.
He also stated that there has been no direct communication with the Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, to discuss the plastic issue.
It is known that previously, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita emphasised that the government continues to strive for diversification of raw materials and to encourage recycling, in order to maintain the national availability of plastic amid global geopolitical pressures.
In response to the dynamics of prices and supply of plastic raw materials, Agus explained that the escalation of conflict in the Middle East region has affected the global petrochemical industry supply chain, particularly for naphtha commodities as the main raw material for plastic.