Jakarta, April 1 -- The Indonesian government is moving to secure alternative sources of naphtha, a key feedstock for plastics, as shipping uncertainties threaten imports from the Middle East, Trade Minister Budi Santoso said Wednesday in Jakarta.

"It should be underlined that we are importing naphtha from the Middle East, and if supply is hindered, what should we do? We have opted for identifying alternative sources from other countries," Santoso told reporters after a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office.

He stressed the importance of ensuring steady supplies of naphtha, a hydrocarbon derived from crude oil and widely used in producing plastic resin, rubber, and solvents.

The government is coordinating with potential par...