Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia will implement a new policy on coal export pricing starting March 1 to strengthen state control over international coal sales, according to its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Under the new rules, all Indonesian coal exporters must use a government-set minimum benchmark price for their transactions. This price will be updated twice a month, on the first and 15th. Companies failing to comply may face fines or export licence revocation.
Currently, Indonesia applies a monthly benchmark price (HCA) mainly for tax calculations. Long-term contracts can maintain their agreed prices, but the government encourages adjustments if contract terms allow.
In February 2025, the HCA price was set at 34.38 USD per ton for low-calorific coal and 124.24 USD for high-calorific coal. Meanwhile, domestic market obligations (DMO) require coal sales to power plants at 70 USD per ton and select industries at 90 USD.
This policy reflects Indonesia’s ambition to influence global coal prices, rather than merely reacting to international market trends. In 2024, the country produced 831.05 million tonnes of coal, with 434.11 million tonnes exported.
Vietnam, a key importer of Indonesian coal, imported 2.49 billion USD worth in 2024. Coal remains Vietnam’s largest import from Indonesia, contributing significantly to the 4.34 billion USD in total imports from the country./.
