China, Indonesia's Main Aluminum Supplier in 2023

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia imported 707,990 tons of aluminum in 2023.

The volume decreased by 2.31% year-on-year (yoy) compared to the previous year, which reached 724,710 tons.

Total aluminum imports in 2023 reached US$2 billion, or the equivalent of Rp31.14 trillion (assuming Rp15,569 per US$).

China was the largest supplier of aluminum last year, with a volume of 271,460 tons or 38.34% of total imports. China has consistently been the largest aluminum supplier to Indonesia since at least 2017.

Below is a list of the top 10 countries of origin for aluminum imports to Indonesia in 2023:

1. China: 271,460 tons
2. Australia: 62,220 tons
3. Malaysia: 61,240 tons
4. UAE: 45,900 tons
5. United States: 43,200 tons
6. India: 24,200 tons
7. South Korea: 22,420 tons
8. Thailand: 21,630 tons
9. Singapore: 13,230 tons
10. Japan: 4,700 tons

Indonesia's dependence on imported aluminum remains quite high.

This was stated by Danny Praditya, President Director of PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum).

"More than 55% of the (aluminum) needs are still met through imports. Although there have been new smelters in recent years, it is still not enough," said Danny, as reported by *CNN Indonesia*, Friday (8/3/2024).

To reduce imports and meet national aluminum needs, PT Inalum targets the Mempawah Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR) to be operational starting in 2024.

Danny mentioned that the Mempawah Smelter will connect the supply chain between bauxite ore minerals in West Kalimantan and PT Inalum's aluminum smelting plant.

The Mempawah Smelter was also included in the list of national strategic projects (PSN) in December 2023, to realize the bauxite-aluminum downstreaming policy initiated by President Joko Widodo.