Single-Door Export Through Danantara Hinders Downstream Coal Investment: PERHAPI

The single-door export policy through PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (PT DSI), set to take effect from June 2026, is assessed to be hindering the influx of investment into Indonesia’s national coal downstream sector.

This statement was made by the management of the Indonesian Mining Experts Association (PERHAPI), Hary Kristiono, during a recent event in Jakarta. “The problem is not with the buyers [of coal], but with the investment; it has become bad news,” said Kris.

He explained that investment certainty is being disrupted by this regulatory change, particularly following a meeting between the association and the China Investors Association (IAC). “They [Chinese investors] submitted applications from 17 companies. However, a week ago, they told me they are afraid of the uncertainty,” Kris stated.

According to him, the withholding of capital by investors from the ‘Land of the Panda’ has a direct impact on high-value-added projects in Indonesia. “They are the owners of high-value-added technologies, such as gasification, up to the point where they can produce plastic from coal,” he added.

Kris assessed that Danantara’s involvement as a single export gateway will automatically restructure previously established commercial contract governance. “If there is a change in exports, for example, being shifted to Danantara, the clauses will change. There is a possibility of penalties and cancellations,” he explained.

As a result of this contract restructuring, business players must now repeat the business-to-business (B2B) negotiation process to adjust to the new commercial aspects.

On the government side, this policy is claimed to aim at improving the governance of national strategic commodity exports through state-owned enterprises. “This policy follows the President’s directive in his speech during the DPR RI plenary session on the 20th, which essentially states that the government will fundamentally improve governance, with strategic natural resource commodity exports conducted through export SOEs,” said Airlangga.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs added that this single-door mechanism also serves to increase the supervision of quality and the validity of shipping data for commodities abroad. “The export of these natural resources will be conducted through a single door via the export SOE under the name PT Danantara Sumber Daya Indonesia Persero, or PT DSI. This will involve the export of strategic natural resources through a single-door mechanism and export supervision, as well as quality and export data validity, to ensure better implementation,” he added.

The government aims that this tightening of regulations can minimise the risk of financial misappropriation in international trade activities.

Airlangga continued that this regulation will strengthen export supervision and governance. He mentioned that the policy is intended to prevent practices such as under-invoicing, transfer pricing, and issues related to the flight of export proceeds.

Government optimism is based on the significant contribution of coal, crude palm oil (CPO), and ferroalloys to the domestic economy. “Thus, the recorded export value reflects the true scale of export transactions. Consequently, obligations to the state and state revenue from export implementation can be more optimal.”

The three strategic commodities required to go through PT DSI are recorded to contribute an export value of US$66.13 billion, or equivalent to 23.4% of total national exports throughout 2025. “This is the pillar of the trade surplus that has occurred for 71 consecutive months. The export value of coal is approximately US$24.48 billion, CPO is approximately US$24.42 billion, and ferroalloys are approximately US$16.49 billion,” he stated.

The implementation of the first stage of mandatory exports, starting on 1 June 2026, will proceed to a second transition stage on 1 September 2026, before being fully implemented by 1 January 2027 at the latest.