China officially imposes anti-dumping tariffs of 20.2% on Indonesian stainless steel billets, hot-rolled sheets and other products, effective from July 1, 2025, with a five-year extension until 2030. This policy targets not only Indonesia but also similar products from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. The Indonesian Nickel Mining Association stated that this policy will lower nickel ore prices, and due to reduced demand for saprolite nickel ore as raw material, affect upstream industries, ultimately potentially lowering sales prices and state non-tax revenue. Pyrometallurgical smelters in areas such as the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi and the Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in North Maluku may face risks of overcapacity and stagnation. It may also shift investment toward hydrometallurgy related to the battery industry, leading to an imbalanced development of the nickel industry chain, and long-term reliance on a single export market and primary products will lose opportunities for product and market diversification. The 20.2% additional tariff makes Indonesian stainless steel products uncompetitive in the Chinese market, and exporters are starting to seek alternative markets such as Japan, India, the United States, and Europe. However, market shifting is not easy; it requires adjusting product quality, obtaining international certifications, and adapting to the regulations and standards of different target countries. To cope with global protectionism, Indonesia's domestic industry needs to promote the development of high value-added stainless steel products, including cold-rolled and coated products, as well as final products such as stainless steel pipes, technical services, and special metal mixtures (pre-alloyed powders).
China officially imposes anti-dumping tariffs of 20.2% on Indonesian stainless steel billets, hot-rolled sheets and other products, effective from July 1, 2025, with a five-year extension until 2030. This policy targets not only Indonesia but also similar products from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. The Indonesian Nickel Mining Association stated that this policy will lower nickel ore prices, and due to reduced demand for saprolite nickel ore as raw material, affect upstream industries, ultimately potentially lowering sales prices and state non-tax revenue. Pyrometallurgical smelters in areas such as the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi and the Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in North Maluku may face risks of overcapacity and stagnation. It may also shift investment toward hydrometallurgy related to the battery industry, leading to an imbalanced development of the nickel industry chain, and long-term reliance on a single export market and primary products will lose opportunities for product and market diversification. The 20.2% additional tariff makes Indonesian stainless steel products uncompetitive in the Chinese market, and exporters are starting to seek alternative markets such as Japan, India, the United States, and Europe. However, market shifting is not easy; it requires adjusting product quality, obtaining international certifications, and adapting to the regulations and standards of different target countries. To cope with global protectionism, Indonesia's domestic industry needs to promote the development of high value-added stainless steel products, including cold-rolled and coated products, as well as final products such as stainless steel pipes, technical services, and special metal mixtures (pre-alloyed powders).