Indonesia’s mined product shipments hit 5-month high in May’26 on strong regional demand, smooth cargo flows

• Regional mining activity supports cargo growth
• South Sulawesi leads growth on robust export logistics

Indonesian shipments of mined products (imports and exports) increased 6.3% m-o-m to 8.50 million tonnes (mnt) in May 2026, from 8 mnt in April, marking a five-month high. The increase was driven by stronger mining activity, smoother logistics operations, and improved cargo movement across major ports. Steady exports of coal and other bulk minerals, supported by firm regional demand and better shipment execution, also contributed to the monthly recovery.

Port-wise shipments

• Jakarta: Shipments increased 8% m-o-m to 3.28 mnt in May from 3.05 mnt in April. Stronger export activity, improved cargo handling efficiency and healthy trade flows enabled Jakarta to retain its position as Indonesia’s largest mining cargo hub.
• Surabaya: Cargo volumes rose 4% m-o-m to 3.03 mnt in May from 2.90 mnt in April. Stable movement of mineral and industrial commodities, supported by efficient logistics and domestic distribution, continued to underpin throughput.
• South Sulawesi: Shipments recorded the strongest growth among all regions, surging 21% m-o-m to 1.02 mnt in May from 0.84 mnt in April. Higher mining production and increased exports of mineral commodities significantly boosted cargo handling and logistics activity.
• North Sumatra: Shipments declined 6% m-o-m to 0.92 mnt in May from 0.98 mnt in April, reflecting weaker mining-related cargo availability and softer commodity dispatches during the month. Slower regional export activity weighed on overall cargo movements.
• East Kalimantan: Shipments increased by 4% m-o-m to 0.24 mnt in May against 0.23 mnt in April. While coal exports to traditional buyers remained mixed, consistent mining operations and uninterrupted port logistics helped maintain stable cargo volumes.

Outlook

Indonesia’s mined product shipments are expected to remain mixed in the near term. Coal exports may stay constrained by production quota uncertainty and tighter export controls, although seasonal demand from China and other Asian buyers could support cargo flows.

Meanwhile, exports of processed minerals, particularly nickel products, should remain relatively steady, supported by Indonesia’s downstream processing strategy despite tighter ore availability.