Purbaya to Soon Impose Export Duties on Coal and Minerals
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has assured that the government will continue to collect export duties on coal to optimise state revenue contributions.
He made this statement during a working meeting with Commission XI of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday (6/4/2026).
“There is also a policy here to set export duties on coal and other minerals,” said Purbaya.
Purbaya explained that implementing export duties on coal is crucial because the Directorate General of Customs and Excise has previously struggled to monitor its exports due to the lack of such a policy.
“Previously, customs couldn’t board coal export ships before shipment because it wasn’t subject to export duties, they said. So we faced significant underinvoicing without knowing it,” Purbaya emphasised.
“I only recently learned why they couldn’t board—because there was no export tax; that’s how the rules were,” he revealed.
He stated that the imposition of export duties on coal is a firm government decision. Currently, only the technical aspects regarding the tariff rates need to be finalised.
“So it’s being discussed and has been decided; it’s just about the level of the export duty. Clearly, we can now access and inspect the goods, so I won’t be deceived again,” Purbaya said.
Previously, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, revealed that the government is studying plans to impose export duties on coal up to processed nickel products, particularly nickel pig iron (NPI).
According to Bahlil, this is an effort by the government to increase state revenues amid current global uncertainties.
“Because in the country’s current situation, we must seek many alternative sources of income. One of them is by pushing for the imposition of export taxes on downstreaming products,” said Bahlil when met at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, quoted on Monday (30/3/2026).
He explained that his side is still calculating and studying the appropriate formulation for implementing export duties on NPI products, including the scheme and tariff rates.
“We’re calculating the NPI nickel product. We’re calculating it. Once again, I’m calculating the formulation for imposing taxes on NPI,” Bahlil stated.