Indonesian businesses are calling for a stronger and more focused role for the Directorate General of Customs and Excise in overseeing international trade, saying better governance would help boost state revenue, strengthen domestic industries and support economic growth.
Erwin Taufan, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian National Importers’ Association (GINSI), said Customs and Excise plays a critical role as the frontline agency responsible for enforcing regulations issued by multiple ministries and state institutions.
“Customs and Excise must receive full support so it can remain focused on supervising import and export activities,” Taufan said in a statement on Thursday.
“The agency should not be burdened or muddled. If there are officers who do not meet professional standards, they should be rehabilitated,” he said further.
Taufan said improving services and accountability within the agency was key to restoring public confidence, particularly among businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
“So far, from the perspective of importers, Customs and Excise has been fairly responsive in listening to business concerns,” he said, adding that continued reform would help create a more predictable and conducive business environment.
Indonesia’s trade performance has shown mixed signals this year. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed total exports from January to October 2025 reached $234.04 billion, up 6.96% from the same period a year earlier. Non-oil and gas exports accounted for $223.12 billion of that total, rising 8.42%.
However, exports in October fell 2.31% year-on-year to $24.24 billion. Non-oil and gas exports declined 0.51% to $23.34 billion during the month.
Imports over the January-October period rose 2.19% to $198.16 billion, with non-oil and gas imports increasing 4.95% to $171.61 billion. October imports slipped 1.15% year-on-year to $21.84 billion, although non-oil and gas imports edged up 3.26% to $19.03 billion.
BPS data showed Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of $35.88 billion in the first 10 months of 2025. The surplus was driven by a $51.51 billion non-oil and gas surplus, which offset a $15.63 billion deficit in the oil and gas sector.