The Indonesian Filament Yarn and Fiber Producers Association (APSyFI) noted that the textile and textile product (TPT) industry grew 12.45% on an annual basis in the first quarter of 2022. This figure is higher than the prognosis of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) on the growth of the apparel industry by 10.44% and the textile industry by 0.95%. Chairman of APSyFI Redma Gita Wirawasta said growth in the first quarter of 2022 was driven by domestic sales due to Ramadan 2022. However, Redma assessed that this growth has the potential to not continue in the second quarter of 2022.

"We are very worried about the performance of this sector in the second quarter of 2022 and beyond, especially when there is pressure from the cost side, namely an increase in raw materials, an increase in electricity rates and an increase in VAT," said Redma in an official statement, Tuesday (31/5).

Redma said this was exacerbated by the opening of the textile import faucet for general importers or API-U. According to him, this step is strange because national textile manufacturers have proven they can supply the needs of the downstream textile industry since mid 2021.

In addition, continued Redma, textile industry players have made investments to increase their production capacity. One of the investment considerations is import restrictions on the textile industry. Therefore, Redma believes that there is lobbying by textile importers to the government regarding the opening of the textile import faucet.

"Imports are okay, but don't destroy the domestic industry, the domestic supply has been proven to be sufficient, why import?" he said.