Indonesia has officially reopened salt imports, deferring a full ban until 2027 following pressure from key industries that faced critical shortages.
Speaking after a high-level coordination meeting, Chief Food Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan confirmed that the government had “no choice” but to relax restrictions as demand surged across the pharmaceutical and food sectors. Under the original 2022 regulation, imports were to be halted by January 2025—part of a national self-sufficiency push. That plan is now delayed two years.
The decision comes in the wake of factory closures and mass layoffs in West Java and Banten, where local salt failed to meet industrial-grade standards. Despite previous reassurances, industry groups like GAPMMI warned that stocks would not last beyond early 2025, risking further disruption.
Imports will continue through 2027 while the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry develops domestic processing capacity. Australia and India will likely remain key suppliers in the short term, with over 2.7 million tons imported annually in recent years.
Officials now aim to balance strategic autonomy with industrial survival—walking a tightrope between policy ambition and production reality.
