Indonesian Illegal Imports Of Clothing Total $2.9bn Per Year

The import of illegal garments into Indonesia is projected at three million pieces per day with the import value estimated at US $2.9 billion per year.

This was disclosed by Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Textiles (API) West Java branch, Ian Syarif, who said that rise of illegal clothing imports is main cause of sluggish sales of domestic industry.

According to Syarif, the $2.9 billion figure is the difference in the value of garment exports to Indonesia reported by various countries and import figures reported by the customs authorities in Indonesia.

The Chairman of Indonesian Filament Filament Filament Fiber Association (APSyFI) Redma Gita Wirawata also said that apparel exporters have to pay import duty between Rp20,000-70,000 per piece.

“But we see clothing being sold on ecommerce websites at Rp40,000-50,000. This is possible only if they have not paid import duties,” Wirawata added.