The Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, Major General (Ret.) Andi Sumangerukka, officially inaugurated the province’s first direct export of ferro-nickel at the Kendari New Port Terminal on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 — marking a new chapter in the region’s role in international trade. A total of 46 containers of ferro-nickel, amounting to 1,015.16 metric tons and valued at approximately USD 2.95 million (around IDR 49.49 billion), were shipped directly to Lianyungang, China — bypassing earlier transit practices through other ports. Governor Sumangerukka said this milestone reflects not just an economic statistic but a sign that Southeast Sulawesi’s logistics, industry, and port systems are increasingly efficient and globally competitive. He emphasized that the success of this direct export — the result of cooperation between PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional IV Kendari and PT Winarapan — positions Kendari New Port as a strategic node in the global mining and supply chain. He urged that the benefits of this direct export should translate into economic growth and greater prosperity for the local community.
In his remarks, the governor stressed that Southeast Sulawesi should no longer play a passive role as a raw material exporter. Instead, the region must push forward downstream industrial policies that add value to natural resources, facilitate technology transfer, expand job opportunities, and improve public welfare. He also highlighted the necessity of sustainable development — insisting that industry growth should align with environmental protection and corporate social responsibility so that local communities feel the benefits fairly. Toward the end of his speech, he reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to fostering a conducive investment climate, guaranteeing legal certainty, and maintaining regional security, with hopes that this first direct export will spur higher export volumes and expand international markets in the future.
1Source: https://tegas.co/2026/01/28/gubernur-andi-sumangerukka-lepas-ekspor-langsung-feronikel-senilai-rp-49-miliar-ke-tiongkok/
