Indonesia is preparing to implement an export tax of 7.5% to 15% on gold shipments beginning in 2026, with the policy structured to promote greater domestic value-added activities. According to senior finance ministry official Febrio Kacaribu, the planned system will apply higher rates to upstream products such as gold dore while granting lower rates to refined forms like minted bars to support local processing. The tax scale will also adjust according to global market conditions, with higher rates expected when gold prices reach or exceed USD3,200 per troy ounce—allowing the state to capture additional revenue during periods of elevated prices. Indonesia’s strong gold market momentum has already pushed exports to USD1.64 billion in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing last year’s full-year total, with Singapore, Switzerland, and Hong Kong serving as dominant buyers.

Despite Indonesia’s position as one of the world’s largest holders of unmined gold reserves, domestic investors have recently struggled to secure sufficient gold bar supply amid rising investment demand. Febrio emphasized that the new tax framework aims to improve availability, enhance market liquidity, and maximise national value creation so that more Indonesians benefit from the gold industry’s growth. The government remains optimistic that the policy will strengthen domestic production, encourage processing within Indonesia, and support long-term industry development. Discussions on a similar tax for coal exports are still ongoing.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-plans-taxes-up-15-gold-exports-2026-2025-11-17/