2025 Indonesia Semi-finished steel (HS 7207) Export: Market Shift

Key Takeaways

Semi-finished steel, classified under HS Code 7207 (Semi-finished products of iron and non-alloy steel:), exhibited high volatility from January to September 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports peaked in March at 282M kg before collapsing 43% in July due to Indonesia’s new export regulations, ending September 27% below the peak.
• Structural Shift: Indonesia Semi-finished steel Export markets are highly concentrated, with the UAE and Thailand accounting for 32% of value, creating geopolitical and economic reliance risks.
• Product Logic: HS Code 7207 trade data reveals a commodity-driven market, with 97.52% of exports dominated by low-carbon bulk steel intermediates priced at ~$0.44/kg, offering minimal premium potential.

This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Indonesia Semi-finished Steel (HS Code 7207) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Indonesia Semi-finished steel Export trend showed significant volatility throughout the first three quarters of 2025. After starting the year with steady growth

• February and March saw consecutive double-digit monthly increases in both value and volume
• exports peaked in March at 282M kg before entering a turbulent period. The market experienced a sharp July collapse with volumes plummeting 43% month-on-month, followed by a partial August recovery before declining again in September, ending the period 27% below March's peak weight.

Drivers & Industry Context

The dramatic mid-year volatility aligns directly with Indonesia's March 2025 implementation of [Permendag export regulations] that restricted raw material exports to boost domestic processing. This policy shift likely caused the July volume crash as mills adjusted to new compliance requirements, though some recovery occurred in August as supply chains adapted. The hs code 7207 value trajectory reflects this regulatory pressure, with total export value dropping from $124M in March to $68M by September despite relatively stable unit prices throughout the period, indicating volume rather than pricing drove the decline.

Table: Indonesia Semi-finished Steel Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia HS Code 7207 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

According to yTrade data, Indonesia's HS Code 7207 export market is dominated by low-carbon semi-finished steel with rectangular cross-sections (HS 72071100), accounting for over half of both value and weight shares throughout the first three quarters of 2025. Other significant contributors include similar low-carbon variants (HS 72071210) and higher-carbon products (HS 72072029), while the remaining sub-codes consist of minor, specialized semi-finished forms with negligible trade volumes. This structure highlights a concentrated export flow focused on standardized, bulk steel intermediates.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices cluster tightly around $0.44 per kilogram across major sub-codes, indicating a commodity-driven market where price sensitivity outweighs quality differentiation. The HS Code 7207 breakdown reveals minimal value-add stages, with exports primarily serving as raw material inputs for further processing rather than finished goods. This trade structure suggests competitive pressures on cost efficiency, with little room for premium pricing strategies in Indonesia's semi-finished steel exports.

Table: Indonesia HS Code 7207) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia Semi-finished Steel Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Throughout the first three quarters of 2025, Indonesia's semi-finished steel exports were dominated by the United Arab Emirates, which captured 17.18% of the total export value. This market concentration, with the top two partners—UAE and Thailand—accounting for over 32% of value, heightens reliance on a narrow set of Indonesia semi-finished steel export destinations. Such dependence introduces stability risks from geopolitical or economic shifts in these regions.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

Value and weight ratios align closely across markets (e.g., UAE's 17.18 valueRatio vs. 17.55 weightRatio), indicating consistent pricing per kilogram and a commodity-type bulk trade. However, elevated frequency ratios for partners like Thailand (34.62 frequencyRatio vs. 15.47 weightRatio) reveal fragmented, high-frequency procurement patterns, typical of just-in-time industrial demand. Trade partners for semi-finished steel thus prioritize volume scale over premium margins, favoring steady supply chains.

Table: Indonesia Semi-finished Steel (HS Code 7207) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia Semi-finished Steel Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, Indonesia's semi-finished steel export market from January to September 2025 is overwhelmingly dominated by high-volume repeaters, who represent 97.52% of the value share. This cluster, including companies like HONG KONG RUI PU CO., LIMITED, defines the market as stable and contract-based, with long-term supply chains for Indonesia semi-finished steel buyers. The minimal presence of other segments indicates a consolidated rather than fragmented trade environment.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The HS Code 7207 buyer trends show extreme reliance on a few key accounts, creating significant concentration risk where losing one client could disrupt nearly all revenue. To address this, sales efforts must focus on deepening relationships with existing high-value buyers through tailored contracts and consistent service. While the long-tail of smaller buyers is negligible, exploring digital platforms could help capture occasional spot demand, but the priority remains securing anchor clients.

Table: Indonesia Semi-finished Steel (HS Code 7207) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Semi-finished Steel Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export markets: Reduce reliance on the UAE and Thailand by targeting emerging industrial hubs in Southeast Asia and Africa to mitigate geopolitical risks.
• Lock in anchor clients: Secure long-term contracts with high-volume repeaters like HONG KONG RUI PU CO., LIMITED, as they drive 97.52% of export value.
• Optimize logistics costs: Bulk commodity pricing leaves little margin flexibility; negotiate freight rates and streamline port operations to protect profitability.
• Monitor regulatory shifts: Indonesia’s export policies caused the July crash; establish a rapid-response team to adapt to future trade restrictions.
• Explore spot demand channels: While negligible, digital platforms could capture occasional buyers without diverting focus from core clients.

Take Action Now —— Explore Indonesia Semi-finished steel HS Code 7207 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Indonesia Semi-finished steel Export in 2025?

The export volatility in 2025 is driven by Indonesia's March 2025 export regulations restricting raw material shipments, causing a 43% volume crash in July. The market partially recovered but remained 27% below peak levels by September due to ongoing compliance adjustments.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Indonesia Semi-finished steel (HS Code 7207) in 2025?

The United Arab Emirates (17.18% value share) and Thailand (15.47%) dominate, jointly accounting for over 32% of Indonesia’s semi-finished steel exports.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Indonesia Semi-finished steel Export in 2025?

Prices cluster tightly around $0.44/kg, as exports are commodity-grade low-carbon steel (e.g., HS 72071100), with minimal premium differentiation.

Q4. What should exporters in Indonesia focus on in the current Semi-finished steel export market?

Exporters must prioritize securing contracts with high-volume repeat buyers (97.52% value share) while mitigating risks from over-reliance on the UAE and Thailand.

Q5. What does this Indonesia Semi-finished steel export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers benefit from stable bulk pricing but face supply chain risks if Indonesian policy shifts disrupt volumes, given the concentrated trade structure.

Q6. How is Semi-finished steel typically used in this trade flow?

It serves as raw material for further industrial processing, with standardized low-carbon variants (e.g., rectangular cross-sections) dominating trade volumes.