The national logistic industry is predicted stagnant in first quarter 2020 (January-April) as the drop of export and import activities from and to China. Currently, the logistic activity using air transportation is stopped due to the break of direct flights from and to China.

“The effect is on fresh fish export that usually use air transportation. Import activity by air for e-commerce goods is also stopped. The logistic industry is being interrupted due to the break of air cargo for import-export goods from China,” said the General Head of Indonesian Logistics Association (ALI) Zaldy Ilham Masita to CNBC Indonesia, Sunday (09/02/2020).

He admitted, the growth of industries in quarter 1-2020 is stagnant that make industry players feel bad. Before the spread of COVID19, the national logistic industry targeted the growth by 12%-14% higher than the growth in 2019 that was only by 7%-9% due to political year (the General Election).

“That made industry worried is the long break period of flight operation, and China’s economy growth that slow down due to COVID-19. Thus, the growth of logistic industry could be beyond the target,” said Zaldy.

According to him, the logistic traffic from and to China in China’s New Year “Imlek” is usually hampered due to the close of many factories. However, the spread of COVID-19 in the same time make the logistic traffics move abnormally especially the export-import halts to that country.

Previously, on Monday (03/02/2020), the Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto in his office said he will halt the import food and beverage products from China temporarily, yet this hasn’t been a firm decision.

This is still examined as it needs communication and coordination across ministries. Things that we surely stop doing is life animal import from China like turtles, snakes, and others.

However, the moratorium is not permanent but temporary as the spread of COVID-19 globally. Only life animals commodity from China that stop to be imported.

The Chairman of the Central Board (DPP) of Indonesian Forwarder and Logistics Association (ALFI) Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi said after the break of flights from and to China, it affects all activities of logistic players.

“From the air freight sides, the effect is very obvious due to the flight break because almost 85% air transportation using passengers flight in belly space. Moreover, the government also stop all flights including cargo flights (freighters),” said Yukki to detikcom.

Therefore, he expected that the policy and the outbreak won’t last long so it won’t turn off the logistic traffics of exports and imports. “As we know China is our biggest market for several commodities and for import,” he said.

According to the Statistic Central Agency (BPS) 2018, Indonesia import various life animals from China for US$369,091. If we compare with Indonesia total imports from China, the value of life animals import is very small.

In 2018, the total import of Indonesian goods from China reached US$ 45.5 billion. It means the life animals import value is only 0.0008%, the portion is really small.

The life animals imported from China are like primates, mammals, reptiles like turtles and snakes, to ornamental fish. The biggest life animals import from China is reptiles that reach 11.7 tons for US$ 120,444.

However, nominally, the biggest import of life animals from China is the primates for US$ 205,730.00.