Upstream textile industry players have asked PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) to reduce the minimum cost of hours of operation in line with the decline in production which is predicted to last until the end of the year. Chairman of the Indonesian Filament Yarn and Fiber Association (APSyFI) Redma Gita Wirawasta said the association had sent a letter to PLN to submit the request. "We will reduce electricity consumption due to the decrease in production and have sent a letter to PLN asking for the minimum operating hours to be reduced," said Redma, Monday (10/10/2022).

Redma explained that the upstream textile industry had reduced production by 30 percent of the total normal production in the past month. The reduction is expected to increase to 50 percent by the end of the year.

Currently, based on Apsyfi data, the total production of the upstream textile industry is 1.7 million tons per year. Of that amount, the production of polyester is 1.2 million tons and yarn is 500,000 tons.

The decline in production, said Redma, was the impact of global inflation that disrupted the export market as well as the high number of imported goods in the country, resulting in overstock of raw materials in the upstream industry.

"So, there is overstock, and because of overstock we don't buy raw materials," he said.

Redma predicts this condition will last until December 2022. Market improvement is expected to begin to appear at the beginning of next year, which is suspected to be the momentum of the beginning of the year with a note that the number of imported goods can be suppressed.