Business · Trade · 14 hrs ago
Indonesia's Ikat Exports Rise 150% as Officials Promote Ulos
Indonesia's ikat exports rose 150% in the first half of 2026, reaching US$34,000, compared with US$13,600 in the same period last year.
Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji says preserving ulos, a traditional Batak textile, means keeping it in use and helping the people who make it earn a living.
The cloth is woven in North Sumatra, where official figures recorded 43 ulos weaving centres in 2020.
A textile exhibition running from October 13 to 15 features products from 50 small businesses, including ulos cloth, clothing and accessories.
Women play a central role in weaving, which the minister says helps support families and local economies.
The industry faces challenges including passing on weaving skills, attracting new weavers, improving designs and raising product quality.
The industry ministry says it will provide training and business support, while organisers hope the exhibition will build young people's interest and widen market opportunities.
Indonesia’s ikat textile exports reached US$34,000 in the first half of 2026, up 150% from the same period a year earlier.
Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji said ulos, a traditional Batak textile, should be used and developed while providing economic benefits to artisans.
The Industry Ministry and the HKBP Women’s Conference Forum are holding an ulos exhibition from 13 to 15 October 2026.
The exhibition features products from 50 small and medium-sized businesses supported by the forum.
Officials cited skills continuity, artisan regeneration, design innovation and product quality as challenges for traditional weaving.
- Who
- Indonesia’s ikat textile industry and ulos artisans; officials including Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji are promoting ulos.
- What
- Ikat exports rose 150% in the first half of 2026, while officials are promoting ulos preservation and wider markets.
- When
- Exports data cover the first half of 2026; the exhibition runs from 13 to 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia; the article identifies 43 ulos weaving centres in North Sumatra.
- Why
- Officials say ulos should remain in use, develop and provide economic benefits to artisans.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Indonesia’s ikat textile exports were valued at US$88,000 for the year.
Ikat textile exports reached US$34,000, up from US$13,600 in the same period of 2025.
The Industry Ministry and the HKBP Women’s Conference Forum held an ulos exhibition featuring products from 50 supported businesses.
- Ikat exports, first half of 2026
- US$34,000
- Year-on-year export increase
- 150%
- Ikat exports, 2025
- US$88,000
- Ulos weaving centres, 2020
- 43 in North Sumatra
- Exhibiting businesses
- 50 small and medium-sized businesses supported by the HKBP Women’s Conference Forum
- Certified ulos
- Tenun Ulos Ragidup Silindung, from North Tapanuli
What people are saying
We are not enough just to ensure that ulos continues to exist, but must also ensure that ulos remains alive, is used, develops, and provides economic benefits to the people who preserve it.
The Ministry of Industry is fully committed to continuing to strengthen the ulos industry ecosystem through a number of development and coaching programs, such as strengthening human resources and entrepreneurship through training, webinars, talk shows, and the creation of new small and medium-sized businesses.
The ulos product that has received a Geographical Indication certificate is Tenun Ulos Ragidup Silindung from North Tapanuli.