New Danantara State-Owned Enterprise to Ensure Export Commodity Prices Align With Market
Danantara Indonesia’s Managing Director of Stakeholders Management, Rohan Hafas, confirmed that exports of strategic commodities through PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) will continue to reference international market prices.
He explained that the establishment of PT DSI aims to prevent under-invoicing practices and the outward flow of export proceeds that have long been suspected of being parked overseas.
Rohan stressed that PT DSI will not assume the role of seller or buyer in transactions of strategic commodities such as coal and palm oil.
“PT DSI ini akan lebih fokus apakah ini transaksi yang sudah normal, perdagangan normal. Artinya harganya sudah mencerminkan harga pasar mau lebih murah sedikit, lebih mahal sedikit selama pembeli-penjual,” he said. “DSI will focus on whether the transaction is normal trade. In other words, the price already reflects market prices, whether it is slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive, as long as the buyer and seller agree.”
He stated that the main function of PT DSI is to ensure export transactions run in accordance with market prices and that price manipulation practices do not occur.
“It will safeguard that buyers and sellers do not engage in under-invoicing or underpricing,” he added.
Hafas indicated that export prices will reference international prices formed on global exchanges. “Where do the prices come from? Prices for commodities today—especially coal and palm oil—are already traded internationally; crude oil prices are available—Brent or similar. So this will also refer to those,” he continued.
Rohan also dismissed concerns that PT DSI’s presence would harm business players or create uncertainty in export trade. “I won’t kill off entrepreneurs. So there is no uncertainty. The prices will be as good as market prices,” he said. “We want all proceeds from sales to return to the country and not be parked overseas as has been the case.”
He explained that export proceeds deposited in national banks can be used to support domestic financing and investment. “That money, when parked in our banks, will become capital for providing credit,” he added.
Rohan noted that until now export funds parked in foreign banks have largely financed other countries’ economies.
Prior to this, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the phased implementation of exporting strategic commodities through PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia would begin on 1 June 2026.
In the initial three months, export transactions will still be conducted by the company with foreign buyers, while PT DSI will handle export documentation. “Again, export transactions will still be conducted by the company with buyers, but export documentation will be handled by BUMN Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia; this will apply for three months and we will evaluate in three months,” Airlangga said.
After the first-phase evaluation, from 1 September 2026 the process of exporting strategic commodities is planned to be fully conducted through Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia.