In 2013, Indonesia’s textile exports are estimated to be better than in 2012. Sutra Chat, president of the Indonesian Textile Association (API), said the textile industry will be prosperous this year. Sutrachat is optimistic about the improvement of Indonesia’s textile export performance this year. In the first three months of 2013, Indonesia’s textile exports showed an upward trend. Buyers promised more orders to Indonesia.
The buyer’s promise comes after an accident in Bangladesh’s textile industry killed more than 1,000 workers.
Sutrachat estimates that in 2013, Indonesia’s textile exports reached at least US$13.5 billion, the same as in 2011. In 2012, textile exports dropped to US$12.5 billion. The United States and Europe are the main export markets for Indonesian textile products. Despite exports of US$13.5 billion, Indonesia’s market share in the world’s textile industry is only 1.8%.
Sutrachath advocated that Indonesia should achieve at least 5% share in the market textile market. This goal can be achieved if free trade agreements with the United States and Europe are realized.
