Business · Trade · 1 hr ago
Indonesia expects mineral-processing exports to reach $50 billion
Indonesia’s National Economic Council expects processed mineral exports to reach $50 billion this year.
The forecast covers processed nickel, aluminium and lithium battery components.
The council says that total would be about 45% higher than in 2024.
Aluminium exports are projected to rise to $7.2 billion, from about $3.5 billion in 2024.
Indonesia also makes lithium battery parts such as anodes and cathodes, and has a lithium refinery despite not having lithium resources of its own.
The council says this processing adds foreign exchange and forms part of a wider industrial ecosystem.
The forecast is for the end of this year, with no further steps specified.
Indonesia’s National Economic Council forecasts mineral-processing exports will reach about $50 billion in 2026.
The forecast covers processed nickel, aluminium and lithium-battery components.
The total would be nearly 45% higher than exports in 2024, which were about $34.5 billion.
Aluminium exports are forecast at $7 billion to $7.2 billion in 2026, nearly double the 2024 level.
Council member Septian Hario Seto said new aluminium smelter investment could eventually lift aluminium exports above $10 billion.
- Who
- Indonesia’s National Economic Council (DEN) made the forecast. Council member Septian Hario Seto presented it.
- What
- Exports of processed nickel, aluminium and lithium-battery components are forecast to reach about $50 billion in 2026.
- When
- The forecast is for 2026, described in the articles as “this year.” Seto made the statements on October 20 or 21, 2026; the articles give different dates.
- Where
- Seto spoke at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
- Why
- The forecast reflects growth in mineral processing, including aluminium and lithium-battery components, alongside nickel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Indonesia’s exports of processed products were about $34.5 billion.
Septian Hario Seto presented the National Economic Council’s forecast at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta; the articles differ on the date.
The council forecasts processed nickel, aluminium and lithium-battery component exports will reach about $50 billion.
- Total forecast
- About $50 billion in 2026
- Change from 2024
- Nearly 45% increase
- 2024 processed-product exports
- About $34.5 billion
- Aluminium export forecast
- $7 billion to $7.2 billion in 2026
- Possible future aluminium exports
- More than $10 billion as new smelter investment is added
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What people are saying
By the end of this year, processed nickel, processed aluminium, and processed lithium-battery components will be worth around US$50 billion, or nearly 45% higher than our exports in 2024.
Going forward, we estimate aluminium exports could exceed around US$10 billion as investment in new aluminium smelters in Indonesia increases.
This is a very good source of additional foreign exchange for Indonesia.