Indonesian household products showcased impressively at The Inspired Home Show (IHS) 2024 held from March 17 to 19, 2024, at McCormick Place, Chicago, USA. The exhibition recorded potential transactions worth USD 8.88 million or approximately IDR 133.19 billion, tripling the previous year's achievements. According to Consul General RI Chicago Listyowati, participation in the IHS exhibition presents a significant opportunity for Indonesia to enhance its trade performance in the US market. The event serves as a platform to expand networks, market Indonesian quality products, and boost export values. Indonesia's pavilion, covering 80 square meters, showcased products from eight Indonesian companies specializing in household items such as ceramics, home decor, plastics, natural fibers, wood, rattan, textiles, and glass. Over 100 retail companies visited the Indonesian pavilion during the exhibition, with buyers not only from the US but also from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and various other countries.
Iska Huberta Sinurat, Head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Chicago, noted the high demand for wooden dining utensils, fragile items, unique home decorations, recycled and environmentally friendly products among buyers. She highlighted the opportunity for Indonesia to capture the US import market from China due to higher tariffs imposed by the US on certain Chinese products. During the three-day IHS 2024, the Indonesian Pavilion recorded trade transactions of USD 8.88 million and potential transactions of up to USD 37.15 million or around IDR 557.18 billion annually. Iska emphasized the increasing interest in Indonesian furniture products and their strong position in the eyes of US consumers, indicating significant export opportunities not only to the US and North American countries but globally. Based on data from the Global Trade Atlas–S&P Global, in 2023, the US imported household equipment products worth USD 455 billion from the world, with Indonesia's exports to the US totaling USD 7.4 billion. These exports cover various categories, indicating a broad opportunity for Indonesian products to penetrate the US household equipment market, further supported by favorable trade relations between the US and China.
