The Indonesian textile industry, specifically the apparel sector, witnessed a remarkable surge in exports, reaching a value of US$700.7 million in May 2023. This represents a substantial monthly growth of 45.92% compared to the US$480.2 million recorded in April 2023. 

Retailers played a crucial role in this success by depleting their remaining clothing stocks from the Eid Al-Fitr production, which concluded in April 2023. Additionally, the ongoing implementation of the government's P3DN (Increased Use of Domestic Products) policy, supplying public school and government employee attire, prompted manufacturers to ramp up production. 

Despite this growth, the textile industry still faced challenges, primarily stemming from high import levels that hindered the absorption of domestic product sales. Adie acknowledged that the industry's performance has not yet reached its peak, although imports increased in May to 133,000 tons compared to 106,000 tons in April, leading to a surplus of textile stocks in the market. 

However, as the new school year commences, expectations are high for an improved performance in the textile industry.