Business actors assess that the performance of imports of raw materials for manufacturing will be leveraged along with the high demand during the campaign period related to the 2024 Election. Former Chair of the Trade Sector of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) Benny Soetrisno estimates that the import value of raw materials will increase in semester II/2023 due to activity campaign ahead of the 2024 general election. The chairman of the Association of Indonesian Export Companies (GPEI) estimates that the increase in the import value of raw materials is likely to be around 10 percent.

"If I count it in aggregate, no more than 10 percent," he said Monday (17/7/2023).

  He said the democratic party which started running this year was closely related to various kinds of materials, especially textiles and logistics. That way, the need for raw materials will certainly increase so that it will have an impact on imports of raw materials.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of US$3.45 billion in June 2023.

Cumulatively from January to June 2023, a surplus was recorded at US$19.93 billion, down 20.24 percent compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, at the same time there was a decrease in the value of imports of raw/auxiliary materials from US$15.31 billion in May 2023 to US$12.36 billion.

Meanwhile, on an annual basis, the import value of auxiliary raw materials was recorded to have fallen 23.8 percent in June 2023.

On the other hand, Benny hopes that business actors will be facilitated in obtaining permits to carry out trading activities. The goal is for domestic economic activity to increase again. In addition, the government is expected to be able to add financing products, given that the number of financing models in Indonesia is still very limited.