Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has confirmed that export disruptions affecting nickel, alumina and other mineral products due to rare earth element (REE) content issues have been resolved. The government plans to officially resume export shipments on either August 7 or August 10, with the first release ceremony to be presided over by the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) in West Kalimantan.
Director General of Mineral and Coal at ESDM, Tri Winarno, noted that REEs occur naturally as associated elements and should not obstruct trade. The government will revise Trade Minister Regulation No. 6/2026 to establish clear REE content limits, providing uniform verification standards for surveyors and customs authorities in export supervision. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasised that REEs cannot be completely separated from mineral products, and the new regulation based on technical recommendations from ESDM will set reasonable permissible content thresholds.
Previously, the lack of clear rules on REE export restrictions had led to disruptions in exports of nickel, alumina, tin and other mineral products, with over 100 cargo vessels stranded at ports. The upcoming resumption signals that inter-agency coordination has reached a consensus, and mining export activities are set to return to normal.
