Trade Ministry Issues Three Regulations for Strategic Natural Resources Export Governance
The Ministry of Trade has issued three Ministerial Trade Regulations (Permendag) that specifically regulate the export of coal, palm oil, and iron alloys. These regulations include Permendag Number 15 of 2026 regarding the export policy and regulation of strategic natural resource commodities for coal; Permendag Number 16 of 2026 for palm oil; and Permendag Number 17 of 2026 for iron alloys.
These regulations are designed to strengthen the governance of strategic natural resource exports and support national downstreaming initiatives. The three ministerial regulations are set to take effect on 1 June 202<0xA0>26.
Minister of Trade Budi Santoso emphasised that the regulations aim to further strengthen the trade governance of strategic commodities, ensuring that the utilisation of national natural resources provides optimal economic benefits.
“The Ministry of Trade is implementing various export regulation instruments to ensure that the export of strategic natural resource commodities by Export State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN Ekspor) is conducted in an orderly, transparent, accountable, and legally compliant manner,” he stated.
Permendag Numbers 15, 16, and 17 of 2026 serve as follow-up measures to Government Regulation (PP) Number 24 of 2026 regarding the Export Governance of Strategic Natural Resource Commodities. This government regulation governs the export of these three commodities by Export State-Owned Enterprises and will also come into force on 1 June 2026.
The Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Tommy Anddana, stated that the export governance policy for strategic natural resources is designed to ensure Indonesia’s natural resources provide greater benefits to the national economy. The regulations also aim to maintain a balance between export interests and domestic requirements.
“Through this policy, the government is strengthening the export governance of strategic natural resource commodities, optimising economic benefits for the state, ensuring domestic needs remain met, and supporting downstreaming and national economic stability,” said Tommy.
Tommy explained that the implementation of this policy will be carried out in stages to ensure a smooth transition and allow for adjustments by stakeholders. During Phase I, spanning from 1 June to 31 December 2026, exports can still be conducted using previously issued permits. However, there is an additional obligation to submit export reports and documents to the Export State-Owned Enterprises. The government will also conduct an evaluation within three months of the enforcement of Government Regulation Number 24 of 2026.
Subsequently, in Phase II, which will begin no later than 1 January 2027, the export of strategic natural resource commodities will be handled exclusively by Export State-Owned Enterprises. The entire export process—from pre-clearance and customs clearance to post-clearance—will be carried out in accordance with the mechanisms established by law. For coal, the regulations cover anthracite, thermal coal, lignite, and peat, with several items falling under HS codes 2701 to 2703.
During Phase I, export activities will continue to use Registered Exporters (ET) and Surveyor Reports (LS) under the names of business actors. ET permits already issued will remain valid until 31 December 2026 at the latest. For palm oil, the regulations cover the same commodities as previously regulated under Permendag Number 26 of 2024 and its subsequent amendments.
Export regulations will continue to prioritise domestic needs through the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) for ‘Minyakita’, including the obligation to distribute to second-line distributors and allocations to Food State-Owned Enterprises as per applicable provisions. Meanwhile, the regulation of iron alloy exports covers 15 tariff headings under 8-digit HS 7202, consisting of goods prohibited from export, goods requiring a Surveyor Report, and goods that can be exported without one.
With the enactment of these three ministerial regulations, previous provisions regarding coal and iron alloy exports in Permendag Number 23 of 2023 are revoked and declared invalid. Similarly, the palm oil export provisions in Permendag Number 26 of 2024 and its amendments are also revoked.
Tommy emphasised that strengthening the governance of strategic natural resource exports is part of the government’s effort to ensure Indonesia’s natural resources provide long-term benefits for national development. “The government wants to ensure that the management of strategic commodity exports is not only oriented towards increasing exports but is also capable of driving downstreaming, maintaining domestic supply, increasing added value, and strengthening national economic resilience,” said Tommy.