Jakarta (ANTARA) – Trade Minister Budi Santoso conveyed plans to explore alternative suppliers of plastic raw materials to maintain domestic supply and price stability amidst pressures on the global supply chain.He explained that naphtha, the main raw material for plastic pellets, has been sourced from the Middle East.However, recent global conditions have resulted in longer shipping times and increasingly intense competition between countries for this material.”The raw material for plastic pellets, naphtha, has been sourced from the Middle East. Now we have alternatives from Africa, India, and the United States,” he spoke to ANTARA at the ANTARA Heritage Center in Jakarta on Thursday.Santoso addressed that global logistics disruptions have slowed the distribution of raw materials. Meanwhile, intense competition among countries for naphtha supplies has also affected the global availability of plastic feedstocks.He also mentioned that several plastic-producing countries are now prioritizing domestic demand. Many large companies in Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea are prioritizing the domestic market, resulting in reduced global export supplies.According to him, the government is currently prioritizing stabilizing plastic prices by strengthening supply. His office also continues to coordinate with industry players and Indonesian trade representatives abroad to open access to new suppliers of plastic raw materials.Furthermore, the minister ensured that the increase in plastic prices has not significantly affected commodity prices in the market.”We are focusing to make plastic cheaper. If the plastic is cheap, other products will also be cheaper. But overall, there has not been a significant increase (in price),” he said.Santoso also conveyed that the government welcomes engagement with all potential countries supplying plastic raw materials, in order to give domestic industries broader import choices and reduce reliance on one region.According to Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS), Saudi Arabia and Oman are among the largest suppliers of naphtha, providing 3.6 million tons and 2.7 million tons annually, respectively. Nearly 4 million tons of naphtha are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz to Asia every month.