Gitnux/Report 2026

Indonesia Chemical Industry Statistics

Indonesia’s chemical industry still runs on a workforce of 450,000, but productivity jumped 7% to IDR 450 million per worker in 2023 while output and export momentum widened across petrochemicals, fertilizers, and specialty segments. See how the sector drew USD 4.2 billion in investment in 2022 and pushed capacity, for example petrochemicals expanding by 1.1 million tons with USD 1.5 billion investment in 2023, even as the trade balance deficit narrowed to USD 3.4 billion in 2023.
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Indonesia Chemical Industry Statistics
Christopher MorganWritten by Christopher Morgan·Edited by Felix Zimmermann·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Last verified May 14, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

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03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Next review Nov 2026
Indonesia’s chemical industry added real momentum in 2025-2026 terms, with labor productivity rising 7% to IDR 450 million per worker in 2023 while the sector still spans everything from petrochemicals and fertilizers to dyes and detergents. Behind that jump, workforce numbers and market shares shift sharply, including petrochemicals reaching USD 9.2 billion in 2023 and employing 120,000 people, alongside fertilizers that support 28,000 staff in production. This post connects those contrasts so you can see where growth is coming from and where capacity and labor are moving out of sync.

Key Takeaways

  • The chemical industry employed 450,000 workers in Indonesia in 2022
  • Pupuk Indonesia employed 28,000 staff in fertilizer production as of 2023
  • Petrochemical sector jobs grew 11% to 120,000 in 2023
  • Investments in Indonesia's chemical industry totaled USD 4.2 billion in 2022
  • New petrochemical complex by Chandra Asri added 1.1 million tons capacity in 2023, USD 1.5 billion invested
  • Pupuk Indonesia invested USD 800 million in fertilizer plants upgrades in 2022
  • Indonesia's chemical industry market size was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022, growing at 6.5% CAGR
  • The petrochemical segment held 35% market share in Indonesia's chemicals in 2023, valued at USD 9.2 billion
  • Fertilizer market in Indonesia reached USD 8.1 billion in 2022, with urea at 60%
  • In 2022, Indonesia's chemical industry produced 8.5 million tons of petrochemical products, marking a 12% increase from 2021 driven by expanded capacity in ethylene and propylene
  • The production of urea fertilizer in Indonesia reached 6.2 million metric tons in 2023, accounting for 65% of total nitrogen fertilizer output
  • Indonesia's basic inorganic chemicals output grew to 4.1 million tons in 2021, with sulfuric acid comprising 45% of the total
  • Indonesia exported chemicals worth USD 12.3 billion in 2022, up 14% YoY
  • Urea fertilizer exports from Indonesia totaled 4.5 million tons in 2023, valued at USD 2.1 billion
  • Petrochemical exports reached USD 3.8 billion in 2022, ethylene polymers 30%

Indonesia’s chemical industry hired hundreds of thousands, boosted productivity and grew on strong investment and demand.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment and Workforce16 stats

01
The chemical industry employed 450,000 workers in Indonesia in 2022
02
Pupuk Indonesia employed 28,000 staff in fertilizer production as of 2023
03
Petrochemical sector jobs grew 11% to 120,000 in 2023
04
Manufacturing chemists numbered 85,000 in chemicals firms in 2022
05
Oleochemical industry employed 35,000 workers in 2023, palm sector dominant
06
Paint industry workforce reached 65,000 in Indonesia 2022
07
Rubber chemicals plants employed 22,000 in 2023
08
Pharmaceutical chemical sector had 45,000 employees in 2022
09
Polymer processing jobs totaled 95,000 in 2023
10
Agrochemical firms employed 18,000 workers in 2022
11
Chemical engineers in industry numbered 25,000 in 2023
12
Detergent manufacturing employed 40,000 in 2022
13
Adhesives sector workforce was 15,000 in 2023
14
Dyes and pigments plants had 12,000 employees in 2022
15
Total chemical industry labor productivity rose 7% to IDR 450 million/worker in 2023
16
Female workforce in chemicals was 35% or 157,500 in 2022
Interpretation

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

While Indonesia's chemical sector might seem a formidable beast with its 450,000-strong army—from fertilizers to pharmaceuticals—it’s a surprisingly nimble one, having boosted its labor productivity by 7% and proving that a significant 35% of its workforce ensures the industry's formula is anything but a one-gender reaction.

02 · Category

Investments and Capacity16 stats

01
Investments in Indonesia's chemical industry totaled USD 4.2 billion in 2022
02
New petrochemical complex by Chandra Asri added 1.1 million tons capacity in 2023, USD 1.5 billion invested
03
Pupuk Indonesia invested USD 800 million in fertilizer plants upgrades in 2022
04
FDI in chemicals reached USD 2.1 billion in 2023, Singapore leading investor
05
Oleochemical capacity expansion invested USD 650 million in 2022, Wilmar key player
06
Paint industry greenfield investments USD 300 million in 2023
07
Methanol plant investment USD 500 million by Pertamina in 2022, 1 million tons capacity
08
Polymer capacity grew by 800,000 tons with USD 900 million investment in 2023
09
Agrochemical R&D investment USD 150 million in 2022 by multinationals
10
Rubber accelerator plants added USD 200 million capacity investment 2023
11
Pharmaceutical API plant investments USD 400 million in 2022
12
Detergents expansion USD 250 million by P&G in 2023
13
Adhesives new facilities USD 120 million invested 2022
14
Dyes production capacity up 50,000 tons with USD 80 million in 2023
15
Total planned chemical investments USD 15 billion by 2025 announced in 2022
16
Capacity utilization in petrochemicals averaged 85% in 2023 post-investments
Interpretation

Investments and Capacity Interpretation

Indonesia's chemical industry is pouring billions into building everything from paint to polymers, proving the nation is not just mixing compounds but also stirring up a serious economic reaction.

03 · Category

Market and Economic Indicators14 stats

01
Indonesia's chemical industry market size was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022, growing at 6.5% CAGR
02
The petrochemical segment held 35% market share in Indonesia's chemicals in 2023, valued at USD 9.2 billion
03
Fertilizer market in Indonesia reached USD 8.1 billion in 2022, with urea at 60%
04
Indonesia's specialty chemicals market grew to USD 4.5 billion in 2023, CAGR 7.2%
05
Basic chemicals contributed 28% to industry revenue in 2022, totaling USD 7.2 billion
06
The paints and coatings market size was USD 2.8 billion in 2023 in Indonesia
07
Indonesia's oleochemicals market valued at USD 3.4 billion in 2022, palm kernel based 75%
08
Pharmaceutical chemicals market hit USD 1.9 billion in 2023, generics driving growth
09
Polymer market in Indonesia was USD 6.7 billion in 2022, PVC leading at 25%
10
Agrochemicals market size reached USD 2.2 billion in 2023, herbicides 40%
11
Indonesia's rubber chemicals market valued USD 850 million in 2022, accelerators key
12
Detergents and cleaners market was USD 1.5 billion in 2023
13
Adhesives market in Indonesia hit USD 650 million in 2022, construction driven
14
Indonesia chemical industry revenue grew 9.4% to IDR 450 trillion in 2023
Interpretation

Market and Economic Indicators Interpretation

Indonesia's chemical industry is not just bubbling along; it's a petrochemical-powered, fertilizer-rich, and polymer-packed economic engine where everything from palm-based oleochemicals to generic pharmaceuticals is cooking up a nearly half-quadrillion-rupiah reaction.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production Statistics15 stats

01
In 2022, Indonesia's chemical industry produced 8.5 million tons of petrochemical products, marking a 12% increase from 2021 driven by expanded capacity in ethylene and propylene
02
The production of urea fertilizer in Indonesia reached 6.2 million metric tons in 2023, accounting for 65% of total nitrogen fertilizer output
03
Indonesia's basic inorganic chemicals output grew to 4.1 million tons in 2021, with sulfuric acid comprising 45% of the total
04
In Q4 2023, the chemical sector produced 1.2 million tons of synthetic rubber, up 8% YoY due to automotive demand
05
Indonesia's paint and coatings production hit 1.8 million tons in 2022, led by water-based emulsions at 55%
06
Fertilizer production capacity utilization in Indonesia averaged 92% in 2023, producing 9.1 million tons total
07
Indonesia produced 750,000 tons of methanol in 2023 from coal-based plants, a 15% rise
08
Pharmaceutical chemicals production reached 450,000 tons in 2022, with APIs growing 10%
09
Indonesia's polymer production totaled 5.6 million tons in 2023, polyethylene at 40%
10
Man-made fibers output was 1.1 million tons in 2022, polyester dominating 80%
11
Explosives and pyrotechnics production hit 120,000 tons in 2023 for mining sector
12
Indonesia's soap and detergent chemicals produced 900,000 tons in 2022
13
Adhesives and sealants output reached 350,000 tons in 2023, up 7%
14
Indonesia's dye and pigment production was 180,000 tons in 2022, reactive dyes 50%
15
Essential oils extraction yielded 45,000 tons in 2023, patchouli oil leading
Interpretation

Production Statistics Interpretation

Indonesia’s chemical industry isn't just growing—it’s turbo-charging everything from the fields to the highways, proving that the nation's economic engine runs on equal parts fertilizer, plastic, and sheer industrial ambition.

05 · Category

Trade (Exports/Imports)16 stats

01
Indonesia exported chemicals worth USD 12.3 billion in 2022, up 14% YoY
02
Urea fertilizer exports from Indonesia totaled 4.5 million tons in 2023, valued at USD 2.1 billion
03
Petrochemical exports reached USD 3.8 billion in 2022, ethylene polymers 30%
04
Palm-based oleochemicals exports were 1.9 million tons in 2023, USD 2.4 billion
05
Rubber chemicals exported USD 450 million in 2022 to ASEAN markets primarily
06
Indonesia imported USD 15.7 billion in chemicals in 2023, raw materials 70%
07
Methanol imports dropped 20% to 500,000 tons in 2022 due to local production rise
08
Synthetic rubber exports hit 650,000 tons in 2023, USD 1.2 billion
09
Fertilizer imports fell to USD 1.8 billion in 2022 from self-sufficiency push
10
Paints raw materials imports valued USD 900 million in 2023
11
Pharmaceutical intermediates imported USD 750 million in 2022, China source 60%
12
Polymers imports totaled 2.1 million tons in 2023, USD 3.2 billion
13
Agrochemical imports USD 1.1 billion in 2022, pesticides 50%
14
Inorganic chemicals exports USD 1.5 billion in 2023, caustic soda leading
15
Dyes imports reached USD 350 million in 2022
16
Indonesia's chemical trade balance deficit narrowed to USD 3.4 billion in 2023
Interpretation

Trade (Exports/Imports) Interpretation

While Indonesia's chemical sector is flexing impressive export muscles in everything from fertilizer to oleochemicals, it still can't kick its costly import habit for higher-value ingredients, leaving the national trade balance on a bit of a chemical diet.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Indonesia Chemical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/indonesia-chemical-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Indonesia Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/indonesia-chemical-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Indonesia Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/indonesia-chemical-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

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