Indonesia Critical Minerals
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Indonesia mined an estimated 2,600,000 t of nickel in 2025, 67% of the world's total and the largest national share by far, and also ranks second in tin (21%) and cobalt (14%), according to USGS. USGS reports that Indonesian nickel output rose an estimated 13% in 2025 as new operations ramped up. The government has banned exports of raw nickel ore since January 2020 and sets annual mining quotas, which means Indonesian policy moves the world nickel market.
67%
of world nickel mine production came from Indonesia in 2025, and 62 Mt of the world's more than 140 Mt of reserves
13%
estimated rise in Indonesian nickel mine production in 2025 as new operations ramped up
379 Mt
Indonesian nickel ore quota approved for 2025, against a 2026 plan of 260 to 270 Mt
Source: Argus
14%
of world cobalt mine production came from Indonesia in 2025, the second largest share after Congo (Kinshasa)
Which critical minerals does Indonesia produce?
The table shows where Indonesia ranks in USGS estimates of 2025 world production. Nickel dominates, and cobalt is mostly a by-product of nickel laterite processing.
| Mineral | 2025 production (USGS estimate) | Share of world | Rank | Reserves (share of world) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | 2,600,000 t of nickel content | 67% | 1 of 9 | 62,000,000 t |
| Tin | 61,000 t of tin content | 21% | 2 of 15 | 1,400,000 t |
| Cobalt | 44,000 t of cobalt content | 14% | 2 of 12 | 760,000 t (6.3%) |
| Copper | 710 kt of copper content | 3.1% | 9 of 17 | 21,000 kt (2.1%) |
| Gold | 90 t of gold content | 2.7% | 11 of 13 | 3,600 t (5.5%) |
| Bauxite | 10,000 kt (dry) | 2.3% | 6 of 19 | 2,900,000 kt (dry) (10%) |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 chapters. Shares are calculated by this site from the USGS country figure and the larger of the USGS world total and the sum of the country figures, because USGS rounds the world total. Units differ by row. Rank is among the countries named in each USGS table.
What export rules does Indonesia use?
Indonesia combines an export ban, domestic processing requirements and annual quotas. The table gives the measures with their latest dated facts and says where a source is secondary or old.
| Mineral | Measure | Latest status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | Raw nickel ore export ban since January 2020 and domestic processing requirements; annual mining quotas (RKAB) | A WTO panel ruled against the ban on 30 November 2022 and Indonesia appealed; the 2026 ore quota was planned at 260 to 270 Mt, about a third below 2025 | Argus, Hellenic Shipping News |
| Bauxite | Ban on raw bauxite exports announced in December 2022 to start in June 2023 | Current enforcement not confirmed in the sources used | ING Think |
The Argus figures are read in a press report. The quota is an approval to mine, not output.
How does a quota change the market?
A quota cut changes the world nickel balance because Indonesia mines two thirds of it. Argus reported that the lower 2026 ore quota is a measure for the government to regulate nickel pricing, and USGS estimates that the average LME nickel price fell 11% in 2025 while the market stayed in surplus. The pages on resource nationalism and processing bottlenecks show how mining and processing shares compare.
Why is Indonesia's nickel important to cobalt?
Indonesian cobalt is mostly recovered alongside nickel. USGS estimates Indonesia mined 44,000 t of cobalt in 2025, 14% of the world, and CRU data cited in CMOC's annual report put Indonesian raw cobalt output up 37.7% in 2025 to about 46,000 tonnes while Congo's fell. Nickel quotas therefore influence the second source of cobalt as well as nickel.
Frequently asked questions
How much of the world's nickel does Indonesia mine?
USGS estimates that Indonesia mined 2,600,000 t of nickel in 2025, which is 67% of the world total of 3.9 million tonnes.
Does Indonesia ban nickel exports?
Indonesia has banned exports of raw nickel ore since January 2020 and requires domestic processing. A WTO panel found the measures inconsistent with trade rules on 30 November 2022 and Indonesia appealed.
What is the Indonesian nickel ore quota for 2026?
Argus reported a planned 2026 quota of 260 to 270 million tonnes, about a third below the 379 million tonnes approved for 2025.
Is Indonesia a major cobalt producer?
Yes. USGS estimates Indonesian cobalt mine production at 44,000 t in 2025, 14% of the world and second only to Congo (Kinshasa).
Sources
Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Cobalt
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Tin
- Argus: Indonesia to cut nickel mining quota in 2026. Trade press
- Hellenic Shipping News: Indonesia's nickel ore export ban found to violate WTO rules. Press report of the WTO panel
- ING Think: Indonesia bans bauxite exports from June 2023
- CMOC Group: 2025 Annual Report (cites CRU data)
