Indonesia's planned commodity exchange likely to cover palm oil, nickel, coal

Jakarta: Indonesia's planned exchange for mineral and strategic commodities is expected to include palm oil, nickel, and coal, according to a presidential spokesperson. President Prabowo Subianto announced the plan during his 2027 budget proposal speech, stating that Indonesia aims to establish its own reference price for key commodities.

The exchange is part of Prabowo's strategy to leverage the country's abundant natural resources to stimulate economic growth. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, is the world's biggest exporter of palm oil, thermal coal, and nickel products, as well as a significant supplier of coffee beans, bauxite, tin, and copper.

The government is currently finalizing the implementation details, including the types of commodities to be traded on the exchange. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) will introduce rules for the bourse by September 17, with a separate presidential decree listing the commodities that will participate in the bourse. The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association welcomed the plans, emphasizing that the exchange could provide a more transparent price reference for buyers and sellers, based on actual output levels at major production hubs.

However, the association stressed that the success of the exchange depends on data integrity, clear governance, and the involvement of national miners from the outset. Indonesia already has commodity exchanges for palm oil, tin, and other commodities, although trade at the existing palm oil bourse has been limited.