Indonesian Government Reviews, Suspends Nickel Smelter Development Plans
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources plans to review the policy of suspending or restricting the operation of nickel refining and processing facilities in Indonesia. The Deputy Minister stated that due to industry considerations regarding demand for nickel products, the suspension plan needs to be reassessed. Currently, no measures have been taken to suspend the construction of domestic RKEF nickel smelters. The Director General of Minerals and Coal mentioned that restrictions or suspensions had been considered before, but it is still under evaluation whether to implement them. Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer, holding 23% of global reserves, with total resources of 17.7 billion tons of ore and reserves of 5.2 billion tons of ore. Undeveloped areas include Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua provinces.
Two Chinese Companies Invest 900 Billion Rupiah in Batang Industrial Zone
Chinese Auto Brands Continue to Grow Sales in Indonesia Market
Chinese Brands Dominate Indonesia's Mobile Phone Market
China-Indonesia Two Countries Twin Parks Service Center Launched at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Top-Selling Cars in Indonesia in October
October car sales data for Indonesia has been released. The top five brands remain unchanged, but Suzuki and Mitsubishi swapped positions. BYD rose to sixth place, while Fuso and other brands moved down. Total brand sales in October reached 77,191 units, hitting a new high, up 6.2% month-on-month. Cumulative sales from January to October reached 710,406 units, achieving 83% of the annual target. However, Neta sales data are temporarily unavailable due to delayed reporting. Top 20 best-selling brands in October 2024: Toyota 27,030, Daihatsu 14,096, Honda 8,633, Suzuki 5,491, Mitsubishi 5,486, BYD 2,488, Fuso 2,414, Hino 2,320, Wuling 2,203, Isuzu 2,106, Hyundai 1,711, Chery 698, BMW 506, Mazda 300, MG 277, Mercedes-Benz 260, UD Trucks 183, Lexus 181, Citroën 116, Mercedes-Benz CV 132.
Indonesian Government Cracks Down on 490 Billion IDR Worth of Illegal Imported Goods in One Week
The Minister of Finance revealed that in cooperation with the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, they cracked down on the smuggling of illegal imported goods worth 490 billion Indonesian Rupiah within a week. The operation was carried out through collaboration with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the National Police, the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and related ministries and institutions (K/L). The operation, conducted from November 4 to November 11, 2024, has cracked down on 283 smuggling cases involving various commodities.
Indonesia's Nuclear Power Plant Plan to be Located in Western Regions
The Indonesian government is selecting sites in western regions and elsewhere for nuclear power plants. Last year, the parliament confirmed nuclear energy as a new energy option, and the Prabowo government will advance it. Plans include nuclear plants of various capacities, with large 1-2 GW plants in the west and small modular reactors (SMRs) to serve small industries. Previously abandoned due to the rise of renewable energy, the nuclear plan has been revived now due to energy demand and geopolitical factors. Discussions stalled during the Susilo era are being reconsidered. According to the national energy policy, the first nuclear plant will operate in 2032 with a capacity of 250 MW, falling under SMR category, with construction taking about 5 years, while large plants will need 7-10 years. Indonesia's nuclear power development is progressing steadily.
iPhone 16 Sales Blocked in Indonesia Due to Failure to Meet Local Content Requirements
The fate of the iPhone 16 series in Indonesia remains uncertain as Apple's TKDN certificate expired without renewal. Indonesia requires that devices sold in the country meet TKDN (Domestic Component Level) requirements, with the current minimum threshold set at 35%. There has been discussion about raising it to 40%, but no new regulations have been enacted. Brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have multiple products that meet the local content requirements, have established factories in Indonesia, and comply by using local applications. Apple relies on innovation development programs to meet TKDN, such as building Apple Developer Academies. Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to build an accessory factory in Bandung with an investment of USD 10 million, but it remains uncertain whether this will make the iPhone 16 compliant. According to the Ministry of Industry, the innovation program TKDN certificate for investing in innovation centers has a specific scope; the iPhone 16 needs to achieve 35% local content through assembly or applications to meet TKDN regulations.
Complete List of Indonesia's 20 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
At the end of his term in October 2024, President Joko Widodo designated two new Special Economic Zones (KEK). SEZs are defined areas with certain boundaries designated to perform economic functions and receive specific facilities. SEZs have been regulated since the enactment of the Law on Special Economic Zones in 2009. The government established KEK to accelerate equitable national development, believing that developing SEZs in various regions helps foster new, highly competitive economic growth centers. The KEK policy is also considered crucial for increasing investment, thereby contributing to regional equitable development. As of the first half of 2024, there are
Indonesia International Coal & Energy Industry Expo to Be Held in May 2025 at Jakarta International Expo
rnrnrnOn December 6, 2024, the press conference for the 2025 Indonesia International Coal & Energy Industry Expo and the Indonesia International Conference on Clean Coal Utilization & Green Mining was held at the Modern Country Golf Club in Jakarta, Indonesia. Present at the press conference and delivering speeches were Muhammad Ansari from the Coal Downstream Industry Division of the Directorate General of Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia; Cao Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China National Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy; Cao Linbing, Chairman of Shixin Exhibition Group Co., Ltd.; Ardhi Ishak, Head of Public Relations of the Indonesian Mining Services Association; Xu Zaishan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Indonesia-China Business Council;
Indonesia Extends Anti-Dumping Duties to Mitigate Impact of Chinese Steel Imports
The Indonesian government has protected the steel industry with anti-dumping import duties (BMAD) for over a decade. Recently, the government extended BMAD on H-beams to I-beams made of iron or non-alloy steel for another 5 years, with a duty rate of 11.93%. Previous regulations had been adjusted multiple times, restricting imports from many regions. Over the past 10 years, the Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee has conducted several investigations into Chinese steel imports. It recently completed an investigation into hot-rolled steel plates originating from China, finding evidence of dumping by China, Ukraine, and Singapore. Steel imports from these three countries surged 23.9% in the last three years, while imports from other countries also increased by 56.1%. The influx of Chinese steel has intensified competition for local steel enterprises, leading to reduced sales. Import volumes from China rose significantly in 2023-2024, threatening the survival of local steel companies, which urgently need policy support.