Investors Can Breathe Easy: New Export Rules Contain These Exceptions
The government has emphasised that the new policy regarding the export governance of strategic natural resource commodities does not completely ban private companies from conducting exports. Amidst plans to centralise exports through export-focused SOEs, the government maintains exemptions for certain business actors.
These provisions are regulated under the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 17 of 2026 concerning the Policy and Regulation of the Export of Strategic Natural Resource Commodities of Iron Alloys or ferroalloy. This serves as an implementation of Government Regulation Number 24 of 2026, which modifies the export governance of several national strategic commodities, including palm oil, coal, and ferroalloy.
“The execution of iron alloy strategic commodity exports by export SOEs may be exempted for exporters other than export SOEs who have entered into contracts or agreements with the government that include provisions for at least investment, divestment, and domestic processing and/or refining,” said the Director of Industrial Product and Mining Exports at the Ministry of Trade, Muhammad Rifa’i Abbas, on Tuesday (9/6/2026).
In general, the government has established that the export of strategic natural resource commodities will subsequently only be conducted through export SOEs appointed by the government. However, specifically for iron alloys or ferroalloy, there are several exceptions that still allow non-SOE exporters to ship to international markets.
“This exemption was decided in a coordination meeting led by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and attended by ministers or heads of non-ministerial government agencies,” said Rifa’i.
Furthermore, companies that obtain these exemptions are still required to comply with applicable export regulations, including the obligation for verification or technical tracing through surveyor reports. This means that the exemption does not imply an exemption from government oversight.
“Exporters other than export SOEs who receive the aforementioned exemptions must still fulfil the obligation of LS (Surveyor Reports),” Rifa’i asserted.