PT Anugerah Barokah Energi Baru (ABEB), a company owned by Haji Isam’s Jhonlin Group commenced operation of its battery precursor plant at Setangga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan province last week. The plant is Jhonlin’s collaboration with China’s CNGR Advanced Material Co Ltd.

Astra International (ASII) remains the largest automotive player in Indonesia, but electric vehicles (EVs) gained grounds with nearly 13% market share last year. Will 2026 be different for Astra?

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his cabinet to protect and rebuild Indonesia’s textile industry with US$6 billion (approximately Rp101 trillion) fund and establishing a new state company handling textile business.

Sigit Puji Santosa, chief technology officer (CTO) of sovereign wealth fund Danantara, who is also CEO of state defence contractor PT Pindad, revealed the company’s plan to develop an industrial estate in Subang, West Java province to kick start production of the so-called ‘national car’ in two years time.

It is almost certain that domestic car sales in 2025 failed to cross 800,000 units, way below 2024 (865,723 units). The government refused to admit lower purchasing power behind the falling sales, blaming financing issues instead. 

Aluminium was among the best performing metals in 2025, gaining 18.5% from 2024. While China, the world’s top aluminium producer, has been trying to slow down expansion, their manufacturers have grown more smelter grade alumina (SGA) capacities in Indonesia.

2025 was a bad year for Indonesian textile industry with the closure of Sritex Group. Tens of thousands workers were kicked out from the industry due to falling revenues and squeezed margins. The new year might be worse with potential implementation of reciprocal tariff of 19% by US government.

Persistent oversupply, particularly in China, and sotened demand led to nearly 16% fall of polypropylene (PP) resin price last year. Yet, PT Polytama Propindo (PLTM), the second largest manufacturer of polypropylene resin (PP resin) in Indonesia behind Chandra Asri, decided to grow its capacity significantly in the coming years.

South Korea’s biopharmaceutical company, SK Plasma in a collaboration with Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) sovereign fund has built the first plasma fractionation facility in Indonesia and the largest in Southeast Asia.

Amidst downfall of foreign direct investment (FDI), two South Korean companies have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture for production of chemicals in Indonesia.