Government Plans to Halt Tin Exports as Part of Mineral Downstream Policy

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has revealed the government’s plan to stop exporting tin commodities as part of strengthening the national mineral downstream policy.

Bahlil said that after banning the export of bauxite last year, the government is now studying the termination of exports for a number of other commodities, including tin.

“Last year we banned the export of bauxite, and next year we will review several other commodities, including tin. We must no longer export raw goods,” said Bahlil at the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 panel on Friday, 13 February.

He emphasised that this policy opens up significant opportunities for investors to invest in the domestic downstream sector, ensuring that tin commodities achieve higher added value.

Bahlil cited the example of a similar policy applied to nickel commodities. While still serving as Minister of Investment and Head of BKPM, he took the decision to stop nickel ore exports. The value of nickel exports in the 2018-2019 period was recorded at just US$3.3 billion. However, after downstream processing was implemented, export value jumped to US$34 billion within five years.

“This has increased almost tenfold. This is what then becomes a driving force for more equitable economic growth and job creation,” he said.