UPDATE 15/11/2019: Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has announced exports will now be permitted until January 2020. The Club will update Members as necessary.

Original article - 29th October 2019

Indonesia has placed a ban on Nickel Ore exports from 29 October 2019.

Members may have been aware of the looming ban on raw nickel ore export s out of Indonesia, as governed by Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) No. 11 of 2019 which was to take effect from January 1, 2020.

However, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has stated that the ban will take effect from Tuesday 29 October 2019. Although not based on official regulations, this acceleration, according to BKPM, was decided by mutual agreement with the nickel association.

The Club's correspondents, SPICA, are gaining the official position of the Indonesian government on the matter. It is too early to give a comprehensive overview of what will occur at individual ports and the position is subject to change.

This development may of course create a number of issues with vessels not yet departed but fully loaded, half loaded vessels, or vessels waiting to be loaded at anchorages in Indonesia.