Differences in export and import data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the International Trade Center (ITC) have sparked allegations of illegal import practices from China affecting domestic industry. Meanwhile, the alleged amount of illegal imports was revealed by players in the textile and textile products (TPT) industry and the footwear industry, whose performance is currently declining due to the flood of foreign products in the domestic market. The Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Producers Association (APSyFI) recorded data from ITC that China's TPT (HS 50-63) exports to Indonesia were worth US$6.5 billion last year. Meanwhile, BPS recorded TPT imports from China of US$3.55 billion in the same period. There is a gap of US$2.94 billion or the equivalent of IDR 43 trillion which is not included in the official BPS records.
Not only that, the Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo) also revealed differences in BPS footwear import data (HS 64) from China which was recorded at US$484.3 million in 2022. Meanwhile, ITC data shows that China's footwear exports to RI were worth US$1. .2 billion.
Local industry players suspect that the difference is import activity from China that is not registered with BPS, aka illegal. This also raises concerns about the lack of firm action to curb the rate of illegal imports into the country.
Responding to the differences in BPS and ITC data, BPS Director of Distribution Statistics Elfiza said that his party only records data that comes in from customs, where the data is filled in by exporters and importers directly.
"BPS only records legal exports and imports originating from the customs data compilation system. The customs data compilation system is filled in directly by exporters and importers," said Efliza, Thursday (19/10/2023).
These data differences occur not only in 2022. Previously, Aprisindo also recorded quite a high difference in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, according to BPS, Indonesia's imports from China were worth US$396 million, while ITC data showed China's exports to Indonesia amounted to US$785 million. There is a gap of US$389 million which is not officially recorded at BPS.
Executive Director of Aprisindo, Firman Bakri, said that the government should look at the irregularities in the data differences and identify gaps in the entry of illegal imports.
"Because the difference in import data is very high, and has been going on for quite a long time, there needs to be serious attention by forming a Committee for the Eradication of Illegal Imports and making Customs problems an Extraordinary Crime," he explained.
