US, Thailand Boost National Textile Exports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of Indonesian Textile Association (API), Ade Sudrajat, said that United States and Thailand have become the major importers of Indonesian textile this year. According to Ade, the economic recovery in the United States and the increase of Thai's consumption were the major factors of the national textile growth. "When exports to Europe declined, demands from the two countries increased," Ade told Tempo, on last Sunday.

Between January and October 2013, U.S. demands on the national textile were the highest, reaching US$315 billion or equals to 21.8 percent. Meanwhile, demands from Thailand reached US$156.3 million, or increased by 7.4 percent in the same period of the last year, which was US145.5 million. Thailand was one of the countries with the biggest demand increase in 2013.

Ade forecasted that this year's export is expected to reach US$14.4 billion. The number is 8.2 percent higher than last year, which was US13.3 billion. Meanwhile, small industry’s turnover is set to US$6.6 billion. According to Ade, the turnover achievement would depend on export as domestic demands were hampered by the government's policy to increase the base electricity price that would encourage inflations. "The textile industry would suffer because the increase of base electricity price," he said.

According to Ade, the Election this year would not contribute significantly to the textile industry's turnover as the demands would only range from T-shirts and rough fabrics for banners and flags. "The value of the demand will not exceed US$166.6 million. It will not be significant," said Ade.

ANANDA TERESIA | PINGIT ARIA | FERY FIRMANSYAH