Indonesia Coal HS270119 Export Data 2025 May Overview

Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export: Key Takeaways

India dominates Indonesia's coal exports (HS Code 270119) in May 2025, absorbing 36% of volume but paying lower unit prices, signaling bulk purchases of standard-grade thermal coal. The market shows concentrated risk with Asia-driven demand, led by India, Philippines, and Malaysia, while smaller buyers like Bangladesh indicate niche opportunities. This analysis covers May 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export Background

Indonesia’s Coal (HS Code 270119: other than anthracite and bituminous, not agglomerated) fuels power plants and industrial boilers globally, maintaining steady demand despite energy shifts. In 2025, Indonesia’s new coal export mandate tied pricing to domestic indexes, reshaping trade dynamics [SP Global], while potential levies on high-grade thermal coal aim to boost revenues [Discovery Alert]. As the world’s top thermal coal exporter, Indonesia’s May 2025 exports under HS Code 270119 remain critical for energy markets, balancing policy adjustments with global supply needs.

Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

Indonesia's Coal HS Code 270119 Export in 2025 May reached $1.65 billion by value and 28.48 billion kilograms by volume, marking a notable monthly recovery after a subdued start to the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The May rebound reflects both seasonal demand and market recalibration. After a dip in March and April—likely tied to buyer hesitation amid new regulations—the QoQ growth in both value (up 5.1% from April) and volume (up 8.2%) signals renewed trade momentum. This aligns with typical post-regulatory adjustment phases in bulk commodities, where exporters and importers adapt to policy shifts before resuming activity.

External Context and Outlook

The volatility in early 2025 stems directly from Indonesia’s March coal export mandate, which required thermal coal shipments to be priced at the domestic index rather than international benchmarks [S&P Global Commodity Insights]. This initially disrupted contracts and trade flows (S&P Global Commodity Insights). Looking ahead, further policy moves—such as potential export levies on high-grade coal—could influence pricing and volume trends through the remainder of 2025.

Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Indonesia's export of coal under HS Code 270119 is fully specialized in a single sub-code, 27011900, which covers other coal not agglomerated, excluding anthracite and bituminous types. This sub-code accounts for all export value, weight, and volume, with a unit price of 0.06 USD per kilogram, indicating a low-value, bulk commodity nature. The analysis for May 2025 shows no price anomalies, as this is the only product variant exported.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

With only one sub-code present, the export structure is uniform, consisting of raw, non-agglomerated coal that is typically low-grade and used for thermal purposes. This homogeneity suggests a fungible bulk commodity trade, where products are interchangeable and prices are closely tied to global indices like the Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA), rather than being differentiated by quality or processing stage.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For Indonesia Coal HS Code 270119 Export 2025 May, the uniform, low-value product limits pricing power for exporters, as it competes on volume and cost efficiency. [S&P Global Commodity Insights] reports that Indonesia's mandate for thermal coal exports to be priced at the domestic index (HBA) since March 2025 reinforces government control over revenues, potentially squeezing margins. Exporters should focus on optimizing logistics and cost structures to maintain competitiveness under these regulatory constraints. (S&P Global)

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Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India is the dominant importer of Indonesia's coal exports in May 2025, accounting for 35.84% of the weight and 30.68% of the value. The lower value ratio compared to weight ratio suggests that India primarily imports lower-grade or standard thermal coal, with an estimated unit price around 0.05 USD/kg, reflecting its role as a bulk energy consumer. This pattern for Indonesia Coal HS Code 270119 Export 2025 May indicates a focus on high-volume, cost-effective shipments to meet energy demands.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top importers form two clear clusters: first, major Asian economies like India, Philippines, and Malaysia, which together handle over 50% of the weight, driven by high energy needs and geographic proximity for efficient logistics. Second, countries like China Mainland and Vietnam show balanced weight and value ratios, implying diverse coal grades for industrial use, possibly due to existing trade ties and infrastructure. Smaller importers such as Bangladesh and Taiwan may target specific coal types for niche applications, influenced by regional demand variations.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Exporters should prioritize compliance with Indonesia's new coal pricing regulations, which mandate using domestic indexes and may introduce levies, as noted in [China Briefing] and (China Briefing). To mitigate risks, diversify markets beyond dominant partners like India and enhance grade differentiation to capture higher-value opportunities in clusters with balanced ratios, ensuring stable supply chains amid policy shifts.

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Indonesia Coal (HS 270119) 2025 May Export: Action Plan for Coal Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

Indonesia Coal Export 2025 May under HS Code 270119 operates as a low-value bulk commodity. Price is driven by global thermal coal indices like the Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA) and government pricing mandates, not product differentiation. Supply chain implications focus on high-volume logistics to key Asian energy markets, with heavy reliance on dominant buyers like India. This creates vulnerability to policy shifts or demand changes in concentrated markets.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Coal Market Execution

• Use HS Code 270119 shipment data to negotiate HBA-linked long-term contracts with high-frequency buyers. This ensures stable revenue under Indonesia’s new pricing rules.
• Analyze buyer purchase cycles to anticipate inventory needs and avoid overstock. This optimizes cash flow and storage costs.
• Diversify export destinations beyond India by targeting partners with balanced value-weight ratios, like China or Vietnam. This reduces dependency on a single market.
• Monitor regulatory updates from sources like S&P Global to adapt sales models quickly. This prevents contract disruptions from policy changes.

Forward-Looking Strategy: From Volume to Value

Indonesia must maintain its role as a reliable bulk coal supplier but explore grade diversification to capture higher margins. Future success depends on aligning with domestic index policies while building resilient, diversified buyer networks. Close tracking of buyer behavior and trade regulations will be essential for navigating 2025’s market shifts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The rebound in May 2025 follows a dip caused by Indonesia’s March 2025 mandate requiring thermal coal exports to be priced at the domestic index, which initially disrupted trade flows before market recalibration.

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

India dominates with 35.84% of the weight and 30.68% of the value, followed by the Philippines and Malaysia, which collectively account for over 50% of the weight.

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

The uniform sub-code (27011900) for non-agglomerated coal results in a low-value bulk commodity price (~0.06 USD/kg), with variations tied to volume discounts or logistics rather than product differentiation.

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

Exporters should secure long-term agreements with dominant buyers (87.12% of value) and diversify markets beyond India to mitigate policy risks like pricing mandates.

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

Major buyers like India benefit from stable bulk supply, while smaller importers face niche market constraints; all must adapt to Indonesia’s indexed pricing regulations.

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

The exported coal is low-grade, non-agglomerated thermal coal, primarily used for bulk energy generation in power plants or industrial heating.