RRI.CO.ID, Cilegon - The Trade Ministry launched an export of structural steel fabrications to Canada from Cilegon, Banten, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, as part of efforts to boost shipments of high‑value‑added manufactured goods to global markets.

The launch was officiated by the ministry’s Director General of National Export Development, Fajarini Puntodewi, at PT Trimitra Fabrikasi Engineering’s (TFE) factory. The shipment is part of the company’s scheduled exports to Canada throughout June.

The export value reached USD 216,000, or around IDR 3.85 billion. The ministry said the achievement reflects the national industry’s ability to meet international market demand.

Puntodewi commended PT TFE’s consistency in developing overseas markets for Indonesian manufactured goods, noting that the success underscores the industry’s growing competitiveness.

“This demonstrates PT TFE’s ability to meet international demand while maintaining quality and adhering to global standards. We support efforts to strengthen the export performance of high‑value‑added manufactured goods,” she said.

She added that structural steel fabrication is a high‑value‑added product, produced through complex processing, engineering, and advanced fabrication. The development of steel fabrication exports, she noted, aligns with the government’s industrial downstreaming policy, which aims to increase domestic value added and enhance competitiveness.

Trade Ministry data shows Indonesia’s non‑oil and gas exports reached USD 87.74 billion in January–April 2026, up 6.28 percent from the same period last year. Iron and steel exports totaled USD 9.61 billion in the same period, remaining a key contributor to national export performance.

“Specifically for structural steel fabrication, Indonesia’s exports reached USD 39.68 million in January–April, recording a positive growth trend of 6.08 percent,” she said.

Meanwhile, iron and steel exports in 2025 amounted to USD 29.76 billion, with a five‑year growth trend of 5.61 percent. Puntodewi said this indicates global market opportunities remain open for Indonesian products, urging industry players to expand their reach.

In the first half of 2026, PT TFE recorded exports worth USD 4.51 million, equivalent to IDR 77.53 billion, to various international markets. The ministry also facilitated PT TFE’s expansion into Europe and the US through Indonesian trade representatives. “We connected the company with potential buyers to broaden market access and explore collaboration opportunities,” Puntodewi said.

PT TFE CEO Bobby Judoprawiro appreciated the government support of export‑oriented industries. He said coordination between the government and businesses is crucial to strengthening competitiveness.

“We are committed to continuously improving product quality and expanding export markets to contribute to national economic growth. This is not the end but the beginning of our journey toward broader global markets,” he said.

To strengthen exports, the ministry continues to run international market development programs through trade missions, exhibitions, business‑matching events, and exporter capacity‑building.

From January to May, it conducted 333 business‑matching activities, including 168 pitching sessions and 165 buyer meetings, resulting in transactions worth USD 193.88 million. (Gusti Panji)