KSP confirms mineral exports delayed by rare earth content have resumed

Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman has confirmed that the export process for mineral commodities, previously delayed due to indications of rare earth element (LTJ) content, has now resumed while the government prepares a revised legal framework. Speaking at a press conference at the Bina Graha building in the Presidential Palace complex on Monday, Dudung explained that the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) is leading cross-sector coordination meetings to prepare regulations that will set maximum limits for LTJ content permitted in export commodities. “It has been resolved, since yesterday I believe exports have resumed. They can proceed while the ministerial regulation is being revised in parallel,” Dudung said. He stated that coordination has been carried out with various parties, including the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Attorney General’s Office, regarding mineral exports that were previously delayed or unable to leave ports due to LTJ content testing. Doubts had arisen after the government prohibited 18 types of rare earth elements and their compounds with purity levels below 99 percent, as stipulated in Minister of Trade Regulation No. 6 of 2026. “After we communicated, because if these exports were not allowed to proceed, hundreds of ships would be delayed. This would also impact economic stability, which I think is the most important thing,” he said. Dudung explained that the majority of surveyor reports on delayed shipments came from exporting companies dealing in commodities such as alumina, copper cathode, and nickel derivatives. He also confirmed that mining products containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) can still be exported as long as the content is classified as NORM and meets testing, safety, and supervision requirements. Previously, a number of mineral export companies reported shipment delays after their commodities were found to contain rare earth elements. The Indonesian Nickel Industry Forum (FINI) stated that as of 20 July 2026, at least 120 commodity ships were unable to leave port due to LTJ content testing. In response, the KSP held a coordination meeting on the governance of critical mineral exports on Monday (27/7) with relevant ministries and agencies.