26,415 Containers Detained, Customs And Excise Says It's A Normal Process

The Director General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance Askolani has opened its votes regarding 26,415 containers that have accumulated at Tanjung Priok and Tanjung War Ports, which are still in the process of examining and licensing containers according to procedures and will involve several ministries/agencies (K/L).

"That's just a normal process. Just go through it. There's nothing strange. Later, if something is not appropriate, the Ministry of Industry will definitely be banned, later if something is not appropriate, the Ministry of Trade will definitely be banned, if it's not appropriate, PT Surveyor will definitely be banned, many parties will be watching it," said Askolani after a Working Meeting with the Budget Agency (Banggar), Tuesday, July 9.

Askolani said that until now she still did not know the contents of the container.

However, related to the alleged container containing textiles and textile products (TPT), further examination will be carried out by the Customs and Excise.

"The contents will definitely follow the provisions. If there is a prohibition and restriction (laltas), no goods will pass immediately, it will be checked. Trade permits, permission from PT Surveyor Indonesia, are long. That's not just a matter of Customs and Excise. That's the business of all parties," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that his party was looking for the contents of the 26,415 containers that had been detained at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta and Tanjung Perak, Surabaya.

The reason is, if it is an item, it can make local products squeezed because they are less competitive in price.

"If you follow the container issue, it is stated that there were 26,000 containers at that time that could not get out of the port. We as industry coaches have an interest in knowing what the contents of the 26,000 containers are. We are obliged to prepare or mitigate goods that enter the country," said Minister of Industry Agus in his remarks at the Government Regulation Socialization event Number 20 of 2024 concerning Industrial Region at the Ministry of Industry office which was monitored online, Tuesday, July 9.

But unfortunately, he admitted, he did not know the contents of the container.

His party has asked several parties, such as the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani. However, there has been no immediate answer.

"That's what we are looking for to know, if 100-200 tons may not be too big, but because 26,000 (containers) are a very large number. What are raw materials or finished goods? We have asked the relevant parties (Menkeu Sri Mulyani). Yes, but it has not been responded to," he said.

Agus said that his party suggested that the new regulation regarding Permendag 36/2023 be re-in effect in replacing Permendag Number 8 of 2024 concerning Import Policy and Regulation.

"We also propose to the president to return to Permendag 36/2023 and the president said to be reviewed immediately. Because in our view Permendag 36 is the most ideal. There is nothing in this world that is perfect, but at least because there is a Pertek (Technical Consideration) that regulates the traffic of imported goods entering Indonesia," he explained.

According to Agus, Permendag 8 is considered not to match the expectations of industry players because it creates uncertainty.

So that the changes to the Permendag, whether intentionally or not, basically confuses industry players.

"Based on official input from industry players or associations, the regulation is considered not to support the domestic industry, it is considered to kill the domestic industry. Because the domestic industry will find it very difficult to deal with the onslaught of imported goods, which is basically very cheap," he said.

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) reported an update on the completion of containers held at Tanjung Priok Port and Tanjung Perak Port.

As of May 26, 16,451 containers or 62.3 percent of the total detained 26,415 containers at the two ports have been completed.