Indonesia Coal HS2701 Export Data 2025 September Overview

Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: Key Takeaways

Indonesia's coal exports under HS Code 2701 in September 2025 reveal a market heavily reliant on volume-driven buyers like INDIA (26.22% weight share) and CHINA MAINLAND (22.85%), with lower-grade thermal coal dominating shipments. High-value markets like JAPAN and SOUTH KOREA show stronger demand for premium grades, but their smaller volumes highlight an urgent need for diversification amid softening global demand. This analysis, covering September 2025, is based on processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export Background

Indonesia’s coal exports (HS Code 2701: Coal; briquettes and similar solid fuels made from coal) remain vital for global power generation and steel production, despite shifting demand. As of September 2025, Indonesia scrapped mandatory benchmark pricing for coal sales to stay competitive, while export volumes face pressure from declining international demand and tighter regulations [Business-Indonesia]. The country, a top global supplier, balances energy transition plans with short-term reliance on coal, even as new policies like potential 2026 export duties loom [Mysteel].

Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

Indonesia's coal exports (HS Code 2701) showed resilience in volume during September 2025, reaching 34.05 billion kg, though this marked a 6.5% decrease from August's 36.42 billion kg. The export value dipped to $2.03 billion, while the unit price held steady at $0.06/kg, reflecting persistent pressure on margins.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The September retreat in volume aligns with typical post-monsoon logistics easing in key Asian markets, which often tempers buying momentum. Quarter-on-quarter, Q3 volumes averaged 33.97 billion kg, slightly above Q2’s 30.59 billion kg, indicating stable—but not accelerating—demand. Year-on-year comparisons are challenging without full 2024 data, but the flat pricing across 2025 underscores stiff competition and buyer resistance to higher costs.

External Context and Outlook

Regulatory shifts are intensifying pressure. Indonesia scrapped benchmark price floors [Fair Observer], allowing discounts that squeeze producer profits. Export volumes to major buyers like China and India have softened due to their domestic output boosts and green policies (Fair Observer). A proposed 2026 export duty [Mysteel] adds uncertainty. While coal remains critical for near-term energy security [Indonesia Business Post], declining long-term demand forecasts (IESR) suggest Indonesia’s coal export strategy must adapt swiftly.

Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Indonesia's Coal Export in September 2025 for HS Code 2701 is heavily concentrated in one product type. The dominant sub-code is 27011900, which covers coal other than anthracite and bituminous, not agglomerated, holding over 73% of the export value and 82% of the weight. Its low unit price of 0.05 USD per kilogram indicates it is a lower-grade, bulk commodity, specializing in high-volume, low-cost exports. The other sub-codes show no extreme price anomalies, so all are included in the analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes fall into a single category of bituminous coal, not agglomerated, with unit prices of 0.08 to 0.10 USD per kilogram, suggesting slightly higher quality or different processing. This structure confirms that Indonesia's coal exports under HS Code 2701 are primarily fungible bulk commodities, traded based on grade differences rather than value-added stages, and are likely linked to global coal indices due to their standardized nature.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the low unit prices across all sub-codes imply limited pricing power, with competition driven by volume and cost efficiency. The concentration in lower-grade coal makes Indonesia vulnerable to shifts in global demand, especially as policies like the removal of mandatory benchmark pricing [Fair Observer] and potential export duties (Fair Observer) could further pressure margins. Strategic focus should be on optimizing logistics and exploring premium grades to mitigate risks from declining international demand.

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Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Indonesia's coal export in September 2025 shows a strong reliance on a few key markets, with INDIA being the dominant importer by volume, accounting for 26.22% of the total weight shipped. The value ratio for INDIA is 20.06%, which is lower than its weight ratio, indicating that the coal exported to INDIA is likely lower-grade or bulk thermal coal, common for commodity trades like HS Code 2701. CHINA MAINLAND follows with a 22.85% weight share but a slightly higher value ratio of 21.75%, suggesting a mix of grades but still emphasizing volume over value.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top importers can be grouped into two clusters: first, high-volume, lower-value countries like INDIA and CHINA MAINLAND, which likely source large quantities of thermal coal for energy generation due to their growing industrial bases and proximity to Indonesia. Second, higher-value, lower-volume countries like JAPAN and SOUTH KOREA, with value ratios significantly exceeding weight ratios (e.g., JAPAN at 10.60% value vs. 5.97% weight), probably import higher-quality coking coal for steel production, reflecting stricter environmental standards and quality demands in advanced economies.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For market players, the geographic patterns suggest a need to diversify beyond volume-driven markets like INDIA and CHINA, especially as global coal demand softens. [Fairobserver] reports declining Indonesian coal exports due to reduced international demand, reinforcing the urgency to explore higher-value segments or alternative markets. Additionally, potential policy shifts, such as a new export duty in 2026 (Mysteel), could impact cost structures, making it crucial to monitor regulatory changes and adapt pricing strategies accordingly for Indonesia Coal Export 2025 September under HS Code 2701.

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Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: Buyer Cluster

Buyer Market Concentration and Dominance

The Indonesia Coal Export 2025 September market for HS Code 2701 shows strong concentration, with a core group of buyers driving most activity. High-volume, frequent purchasers dominate, accounting for 85.20% of the total export value, indicating that a small number of regular, large buyers control the market. This segment handles 72.02% of all transactions but 83.47% of the quantity, defining the overall market as reliant on consistent, bulk trade. The four segments of buyers highlight this skewed distribution, where a few key players set the pace.

Strategic Buyer Clusters and Trade Role

Beyond the dominant group, other buyers play niche roles. High-value, infrequent buyers contribute 7.53% of value, likely representing strategic or project-based purchases, such as one-off large orders. Low-value, frequent buyers make up only 0.92% of value, suggesting smaller, regular consumers with steady but minor demand. Low-value, infrequent buyers account for 6.35% of value, possibly indicating sporadic or trial purchases from new or marginal markets. Each cluster reflects different engagement levels in the commodity trade.

Sales Strategy and Vulnerability

For Indonesian exporters, the strategy must prioritize retaining high-volume buyers while monitoring shifts in global demand. The risk of reduced orders is heightened by news of declining coal exports and potential policy changes, such as new duties in 2026 [Fair Observer]. Sales models should focus on competitive pricing and reliability, especially with the removal of benchmark price floors (Fair Observer), to mitigate vulnerability from over-reliance on a few large buyers.

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Indonesia Coal (HS 2701) 2025 September Export: Action Plan for Coal Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Indonesia's coal export market for HS Code 2701 in September 2025 is defined by high-volume, low-value commodity trade. Price is driven by global coal demand indices and grade differentials, with lower-quality thermal coal (sub-code 27011900) dominating shipments. Supply chain implications center on Indonesia's role as a bulk processing hub, with high reliance on a few large buyers and key markets like India and China. This creates vulnerability to demand shifts and policy changes, such as potential export duties or removal of benchmark pricing.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Coal Market Execution

• Use buyer transaction data to identify and secure long-term contracts with high-volume importers, ensuring stable demand and reducing reliance on spot market volatility.
• Analyze destination-specific unit values to target higher-paying markets like Japan and South Korea with upgraded coal grades, increasing overall export revenue per ton.
• Monitor regulatory announcements and trade policy updates in real-time to adjust pricing strategies ahead of shifts like new duties or benchmark changes, protecting profit margins.
• Diversify export portfolios by developing smaller, frequent buyers into steady clients through tailored volume offers, mitigating risks from concentration in a few large buyers.
• Track global coal demand trends and competitor export data to anticipate market softness and pivot shipments to emerging regions, maintaining volume flow despite downturns.

Take Action Now —— Explore Indonesia Coal Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Indonesia Coal Export 2025 September?

Indonesia's coal exports in September 2025 saw a 6.5% volume drop from August, with steady unit prices ($0.06/kg) reflecting margin pressure. Regulatory shifts, like the removal of benchmark price floors and potential 2026 export duties, are squeezing profits amid softening demand from key markets like China and India.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Indonesia Coal Export 2025 September?

India (26.22% of volume) and China (22.85% of volume) dominate as bulk buyers, while Japan and South Korea import higher-value coal, with Japan’s value share (10.60%) exceeding its weight share (5.97%).

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Indonesia Coal Export 2025 September partner countries?

Price differences stem from grade variations: lower-grade, non-agglomerated coal (sub-code 27011900, 73% of export value) is priced at $0.05/kg for bulk buyers like India, while higher-grade bituminous coal (sub-codes priced at $0.08–$0.10/kg) goes to premium markets like Japan.

Q4. What should exporters in Indonesia focus on in the current Coal export market?

Exporters must retain high-volume buyers (85.20% of export value) while diversifying into premium grades and markets to reduce reliance on bulk thermal coal, especially with looming export duties and declining global demand.

Q5. What does this Indonesia Coal export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Bulk buyers (e.g., India, China) benefit from stable low-cost supply, but face risks if Indonesia’s policy changes disrupt volumes. Premium buyers (e.g., Japan) secure higher-quality coal but may need to monitor price volatility from regulatory shifts.

Q6. How is Coal typically used in this trade flow?

Indonesia’s coal exports under HS Code 2701 are primarily thermal coal for power generation (bulk grades) and coking coal for steel production (premium grades), traded as standardized commodities linked to global indices.

Q7. What is yTrade?

yTrade is a global trade data platform that provides SaaS and API access to provide accurate, structured, and searchable import-export trade data for international business decisions. It enables users to access verified shipment records, analyse buyer and supplier activity, review company trade overviews, assess compliance risks, and monitor real market demand — all from a single, scalable system.

Q8. How can yTrade benefit my business?

yTrade helps businesses:

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Q9. What features does yTrade offer?

yTrade provides practical, trade-focused tools including:

• Global shipment search by HS code, product, company name, port, or country
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