Bauxite Exports to Stop from June 2023

While halting bauxite ore exports aims to increase added value domestically, the government has been reminded to prepare mitigation measures to stem negative impacts from the policy.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo gives instructions to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (left) before announcing a ban on bauxite exports at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (21/12/2022)..

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government plans to cease exports of raw bauxite starting in June 2023. The decision is to follow in the footsteps of the same ban imposed on exports of nickel, which appears to have increased the value of nickel derivatives.

With nickel ore exports banned since 2020, the export value of nickel derivatives increased to US$20.9 billion (Rp 326 trillion) in 2021, from $1.1 billion (Rp 17 trillion) in 2014.