Exports of Indonesian textile and textile products are only expected to grow one per cent in 2016, below the three per cent target. Even in the domestic market Indonesia has trouble competing with imports of cheap textile and textile products from Vietnam and China. Indonesian textile producers now control a domestic market share below 30 per cent.

The textile industry is one of the oldest industries in Indonesia and is one of the industries that is considered most badly affected by the country's economic slowdown after 2011. Indonesia's textile exports to Europe are subject to import duties in the range of 11 to 30 per cent, while Vietnam can export its textile products to the European Union with zero import duties. This makes Vietnam’s products much more competitive.

Recently, electricity tariffs were cut in an effort to support domestic industries. However, this incentive is yet to have a positive impact. It will require much more structural changes in order to boost the domestic textile industry and prevent more bankruptcies as well as mass layoffs.

The Indonesian textile industry also needs to seek non-traditional export markets in order to expand its export base. For example Turkey and Iran are countries that could be a new target.