Five Countries Exempted from Indonesia's Natural Resource Export Proceeds Rule

The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs has revealed an additional export destination country exempted from the latest Natural Resource Export Proceeds (DHE SDA) obligation. Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Secretary Susiwijono Moegiarso stated that there are now five countries granted an exemption from the DHE SDA requirement. “Regarding the countries that receive an exemption from the DHE obligation, there are approximately five countries; the Coordinating Minister will issue the letter later,” Susiwijono told reporters at his office on Friday (24/7/2026). Previously, the exemption list only included four countries: the United States, China, Australia, and Canada. One more has now been added, namely Hong Kong. “If I am not mistaken, it remains an affiliate of China, Hong Kong, but Hong Kong is separate because it is a special administrative region, yet overall, it is still part of China (the People’s Republic of China),” Susiwijono continued. He explained that the five countries were selected because they are recorded as partners with the largest investment and export values to Indonesia. “These five countries are the largest investors and the largest exporters to us in Indonesia,” he clarified. The latest DHE regulation has been in effect since 1 June 2026. The addition to the list of countries exempted from the DHE provisions is the result of a limited coordination meeting held at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs. Previously, under Government Regulation Number 21 of 2026, the exemption list only applied to the United States. Under the current rules, 100 percent of DHE SDA must be placed in a state-owned bank association (Himbara), with a retention obligation of 30 percent for three months for the oil and gas sector and 100 percent for 12 months for the non-oil and gas sector in special accounts. However, the government is providing flexibility on DHE SDA placement for exporters originating from Indonesia’s trading partner countries, both in bilateral agreements and free trade agreements (FTAs). This means that natural resource exporters from the mining sector originating from countries that have an FTA with Indonesia are permitted to place a portion of their DHE retention outside Himbara. Under this scheme, exporters from partner countries can place a retention of 30 percent for a minimum period of three months in non-Himbara banks. “The bank can be Himbara or non-Himbara,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto at the Ali Wardhana Building on Thursday (23/7/2026). Despite providing leeway regarding the receiving bank, the government emphasised that it maintains the full repatriation obligation of DHE SDA to the domestic financial system. All natural resource exporters are still required to bring 100 percent of their DHE into Indonesia in accordance with the new provisions. Specifically, non-oil and gas exporters are required to place 100 percent of their DHE retention in special domestic accounts for a minimum of 12 months, while oil and gas sector exporters must place a minimum retention of 30 percent with a tenor of at least three months.