The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) continues to secure the availability of industrial salt to support the pulp and paper industry, aiming to enhance its contribution to the national economy. According to Putu Juli Ardika, Director General of Agro Industry at Kemenperin, industrial salt plays a crucial role in the Chlor-Alkali process, producing essential chemicals like chlorine and sodium hydroxide, which are vital for bleaching, fiber breakdown, pH control, and final product formation in pulp and paper manufacturing.
As of February 2025, the sector recorded strong export performance, with a total value of USD 8.09 billion—USD 3.56 billion from pulp and USD 4.44 billion from paper. The industry also plays a key role in employment, supporting 288,000 direct and 1.2 million indirect jobs. The Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI) emphasized the critical importance of government support in securing high-spec industrial salt, which cannot be fully sourced domestically due to strict quality standards. Current domestic supply falls short in both quality and quantity, with an annual need of 760,000 tons and stringent specifications, including a minimum of 97% sodium chloride content. APKI hopes the government will facilitate the industry's needs to ensure sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
