Bogor, West Java, July 14 -- The Indonesian government is encouraging the domestic cement industry to expand into export markets and develop environmentally friendly products to address the issue of oversupply.

This was conveyed by Taufiek Bawazier, Director General of Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Textile Industries at the Ministry of Industry, during a visit to the Solusi Bangun Indonesia (SBI) cement factory in Bogor, West Java, on Monday.

Taufiek noted that national cement production capacity currently stands at 121.6 million tons per year, while demand is only around 70 million tons. This 50 million-ton gap results in low factory utilization and inefficient investment.

"This is a serious challenge for the industry. If left unres...