Indonesia is set to boost its petrochemical exports as PT Lotte Chemical Indonesia (LCI) in Cilegon, Banten, gears up for production. Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Roeslani, stated that the factory's products would be exported to Malaysia, Thailand, and India. Operations are expected to commence in March 2025, with exports beginning in May. Around 30% of the factory’s production will be allocated for exports, while the remaining 70% will cater to domestic industries. Key products include polyethylene (plastic raw material), polypropylene (synthetic rubber raw material), butadiene (synthetic rubber mixture), and benzene toluene xylene (gasoline mixture and plastic raw material).
Currently, the construction progress of the petrochemical plant has reached 97.8%. Rosan expressed optimism that the plant would significantly benefit the surrounding area and contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth. "The construction is nearly complete at 97.8%, and production is expected to start in March 2025, followed by exports in May," he said during a site visit in Cilegon, Banten, on Wednesday, 11 September 2024. The products are expected to support industries such as automotive, electrical, medical equipment, and synthetic rubber.
