The Directorate General of National Export Development reported that Indonesia's total halal product trade from January to October 2023 reached USD 53.43 billion. This figure comprised USD 42.33 billion in exports and USD 11.10 billion in imports of Indonesian halal products. Director General of National Export Development, Didi Sumedi, stated that the overall halal trade, encompassing both exports and imports, amounted to USD 53.43 billion. Specifically, halal product exports stood at USD 42.33 billion, with imports totaling USD 11.10 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 31.23 billion. However, there was an 18.77% decline in the value of halal product exports during January to October 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Didi added that there was an 8.10% increase in the volume of halal product exports during the same period, indicating stable export capabilities. Didi further explained that Indonesia's national trade surplus in 2022 amounted to USD 54.46 billion, with 87% of it contributed by halal products. In terms of sector-specific export performance from January to October 2023, processed food recorded exports valued at USD 34.74 billion, pharmaceuticals at USD 546.03 million, cosmetics at USD 362.49 million, and modest fashion apparel at USD 6.68 billion.
The primary destinations for Indonesian halal product exports from January to October 2023 included China, the United States, India, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Didi expressed hope for a reduction in halal product imports in the upcoming years. This could be achieved through substituting non-halal products, such as renowned cosmetics, with locally produced halal alternatives. Encouraging consumer awareness towards halal cosmetics could drive the shift from imported non-halal products to domestic halal ones, thus aiding the national halal consumption movement. Additionally, the data on halal product exports serves as a crucial indicator for Indonesia's ranking in the global Islamic economy, as highlighted in the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) report. Putu Rahwidhiyasa, Director of Sharia Business and Entrepreneurship at the National Committee on Sharia Economic and Finance (KNEKS), emphasized Indonesia's aspiration to become a global halal production hub, emphasizing the significance of agreed-upon halal product export data for this purpose.
