Rp 200 Trillion & Falling Loan Interest Rates: Time for Importers and Exporters to Act

Unlocking Opportunities from New Policies

Imagine this scenario: Indonesia’s state-owned banks suddenly have an additional Rp 200 trillion in fresh funds dedicated to business lending, while loan interest rates drop to 5.50%—the lowest level in recent months.
For importers and exporters, this is not just policy news, but a signal to prepare, act, and seize opportunities.

The decision by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa marks a new direction: stimulating the real sector through banking, rather than merely parking funds in government bonds. The combination of massive liquidity and cheaper borrowing costs gives businesses room to craft bolder growth strategies. However, these opportunities only matter if they are connected to real market demand.

Policy & Falling Interest Rates

The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has placed Rp 200 trillion in five state-owned banks with a clear mandate: these funds must only be used for business and industrial financing, not for purchasing government bonds or simply parking liquidity.
The objective is clear—channel credit into the real sector, strengthen production capacity, and safeguard Indonesia’s trade competitiveness.

At the same time, bank lending rates fell from 5.75% (August 2025) to 5.50% (September 2025). This decline eases borrowing costs, opening opportunities for businesses to access working capital or expansion financing at lower interest burdens.

For importers and exporters, this policy mix could be a pivotal moment to strengthen competitiveness—if applied with the right strategies.

What It Means for Importers

For importers, access to cheaper financing creates space to expand industrial capacity. Loans are no longer just tools to cover short-term costs, but can serve as growth capital: purchasing new machinery, expanding production lines, or improving process efficiency.

With global market fluctuations, importers can also seize opportunities from lower raw material prices abroad. This is where the Bonded Logistics Center (PLB) plays a strategic role:

• Importers can purchase raw materials when international prices are low.

• These materials can be stored in PLBs without immediate import tax burdens.

• When demand rises or production is ready, materials can be released as needed.

Many companies already leverage PLBs for this strategy. Transcon Indonesia (TCI), for example, has long experience managing PLBs and often helps clients turn global price volatility into profit through flexible storage solutions. With the right approach, importers not only store goods but also keep cash flow healthy while waiting for the best market momentum.

What It Means for Exporters

Exporters are in an equally advantageous position. With lower borrowing costs, they can offer more competitive payment terms to overseas buyers—such as longer tenors or discounts for early payments—helping secure export contracts.

Cheap credit can also be used to improve product quality, strengthen international certifications, or expand production capacity—enhancing both reputation and competitiveness globally.

Exporters can also use PLBs as cargo hubs:

• Buy raw materials from abroad at favorable prices.

• Store them in PLBs with flexibility to use domestically or re-export directly.

• Transform PLBs into trade nodes, not just warehouses, giving exporters more freedom in managing supply chains.

In practice, TCI has supported exporters with this model—turning PLBs into strategic hubs for price risk management and market expansion.

Opportunities & Constraints

Opportunities:

• Massive liquidity and lower interest rates create room for business growth financing.

• PLBs provide extra flexibility in managing raw material stocks and taking advantage of global price momentum.

• Exporters can strengthen bargaining positions with more attractive trade terms for international partners.

Constraints:

• Banks will still screen debtors. Large, low-risk companies may get priority, while SMEs must work harder to prove creditworthiness.

• Note: lower interest rates do not automatically increase demand. Business growth still depends on domestic and global markets.

• Cheap loans can become burdens if not directed toward demand-driven growth strategies.

Practical Steps for Importers & Exporters

1. Strengthen financial profiles. Ensure financial reports are neat, transparent, and bank-friendly.

2. Focus on demand-driven growth. Apply for loans with clear business plans tied to expansion or order fulfillment.

3. Leverage PLBs for risk management.

   • Buy raw materials when global prices are low.

   • Store them in PLBs to delay tax burdens.

   • Release goods when domestic demand rises or re-export to foreign markets.

   • With this approach, price risks become opportunities, and PLBs serve as strategic hubs. TCI can assist with efficient management of this process.

4. Build proactive relationships with state banks. Ask about financing schemes tied to the Rp 200 trillion program, understand requirements, and position early.

Conclusion

The Rp 200 trillion injection and falling loan rates form a rare policy mix that opens a window of opportunity for businesses. But opportunities don’t automatically equal growth.

Importers and exporters who connect financing access with demand-based strategies, while leveraging instruments like PLBs, will lead the pack. Amid global volatility, they won’t just survive—they can turn uncertainty into competitive advantage.

Policy opens the window. How wide you open it depends on readiness and strategy. And at this point, experienced logistics partners like TCI can help ensure those opportunities become real outcomes.