Jakarta, April 13 -- Indonesia has begun communicating with India, the US, and Africa to secure naphtha supplies, as the ongoing Middle East conflict threatens imports of the key feedstock for plastics.

Based on the talks, Trade Minister Budi Santoso claimed that Indonesia has secured a commitment of naphtha supply-which has so far been dominated by imports from the Middle East.

"But perhaps the quantity or the supply will take time because of the shifting of demand. In addition, the current war situation is causing shipping slowdowns," he stated here on Monday.

As the imports will take time, for the time being, the industry should rely on available stocks, he added.

"Imports from those three countries have been processed. It just tak...