From Barbie dolls to polio vaccines, Indonesia's factories supply the world

Main points

• Indonesia is a major manufacturing base for global brands.
• Its factories produce vaccines, vehicles, food and industrial materials.
• Production capacity does not always equal actual output.

From Barbie dolls and Nike shoes to polio vaccines and instant noodles, Indonesia manufactures products used by millions of people worldwide, highlighting the country's growing role in global supply chains.

Mattel's operations in Cikarang produced about 85 million Barbie dolls in 2021, according to Indonesian news agency ANTARA, which reported that the facility produced more Barbie dolls than any other Mattel factory at the time.

Footwear manufacturer Pou Chen, through its parent group Yue Yuen, is another major example. Its 2025 annual report shows that Indonesia accounted for 54% of the group's 252.2 million pairs of shoes shipped worldwide. That works out to approximately 136 million pairs, although the figure is based on the group's reported shipment share rather than a separate Indonesian factory production total.

Indonesia also plays a role in global healthcare. State-owned vaccine manufacturer Bio Farma has supplied polio vaccines internationally, including the newer oral polio vaccine known as nOPV2.

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Bio Farma previously said it supplied 67% of the world's polio vaccines, although that figure dates from an earlier company statement and should not be treated as a verified 2026 market share. In February 2026, the World Health Organisation confirmed that Bio Farma's vaccine technology had also supported production in India, expanding international supplies for outbreak response.

Heavy industry and food production

Indonesia's manufacturing strength also extends to fertiliser, metals and industrial materials.

State-owned Pupuk Indonesia reports an annual fertiliser production capacity of approximately 14.65 million tonnes, including urea and NPK fertilisers. The figure measures how much its facilities can produce, rather than how much they manufacture in a particular year.

In East Java, Freeport Indonesia's Manyar copper smelter is designed to process around 1.7 million tonnes of copper concentrate annually. But the facility's operations have faced disruptions linked to problems at the Grasberg mine. In August 2026, Freeport said it was working towards restarting production as concentrate supplies recovered. This means the plant's full design capacity should not be confused with its current output.

Other facilities featured in the graphics include the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, a major nickel and stainless-steel processing centre, and Bogasari's large flour mill in Jakarta. Indonesia also manufactures instant noodles under the Indomie brand, supplying both domestic consumers and international markets.

Valmet, which supplied equipment to the OKI pulp and paper mill in South Sumatra, says the facility has an annual pulp production capacity of about 2.8 million tonnes. Meanwhile, World Grain has reported that Bogasari's Jakarta flour mill can process 11,650 tonnes of wheat per day, equivalent to more than four million tonnes annually.

Indonesia's factories supply global car and motorcycle markets

The automotive industry provides another example of Indonesia's international manufacturing role.

Astra Honda Motor operates six factories with a combined annual production capacity of 5.8 million motorcycles, according to Astra. Daihatsu says its Indonesian operations can produce 530,000 vehicles annually, including 360,000 at its Karawang manufacturing complex.

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Toyota Indonesia has also reached major production milestones. In October 2025, the company announced that it had manufactured a cumulative 10 million vehicles and exported three million vehicles since beginning overseas shipments in 1987. Those figures represent decades of production, not a single year's output.

The country's manufacturing reach includes cosmetics. L'Oréal says its Indonesian factory exports approximately 60% of its production to 20 countries, demonstrating how products made locally reach international consumers.

Manufacturing growth brings new challenges

Indonesia is seeking to increase the value of its exports by processing more raw materials domestically instead of shipping them overseas for further manufacturing.

However, building large factories does not guarantee that they will operate at full capacity. In June this year, Indonesia's nickel industry association reported that capacity utilisation at certain nickel smelters had fallen to 76%, from 84% the previous year, amid tighter ore supplies.

The government's broader industrial ambitions are reflected in efforts to attract manufacturers, expand local supply chains and encourage international companies to purchase Indonesian-made products.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kadin, has promoted these connections through its We Buy From Indonesia initiative, highlighting the country's role in supplying products and components to global businesses.

The figures across the factories show the scale of Indonesia's manufacturing sector, but they also reveal an important distinction. Some measure annual production, others describe maximum capacity, and several refer to cumulative achievements over many years.

Together, they show how Indonesia has become a production base for goods ranging from everyday household products to critical medicines and industrial materials, even as manufacturers face changing demand, supply constraints and competition in global markets.

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