The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded exports of nickel commodities and goods thereof quadrupled in 2022. The increase is not only in terms of volume but also in terms of export value. Exports of ferro-nickel products also rose rapidly, while exports of nickel ore were almost non-existent following the export ban policy that began in 2020. Furthermore, BPS noted that the export volume of nickel and goods thereof, code HS75, rose 367% throughout 2022 or reached 778.4 thousand tons. This achievement is the highest record in at least the last 13 years. Meanwhile, a significant increase has occurred since the government imposed a ban on nickel ore exports.

BPS data also shows that an increase in export volume is followed by an increase in export value. Throughout 2022, BPS recorded the export value of nickel and goods thereof amounting to US$ 5.97 billion, an increase of more than four times compared to the previous year. The surge also occurred in exports of ferro nickel commodities. Export volume in 2022 will reach 5.78 million tons, or a 65% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, in terms of export value, the value almost doubled to US$ 13.62 billion.

This is in line with the ban on nickel ore exports since 2020. The export volume of nickel ore in 2019 reached 32.4 million tons, then dropped to 1.4 tons in the first year the export ban was implemented. The volume then continued to shrink, remaining 492 kilograms last year, although it increased from the previous year's only 65 kilograms.

On the other hand, the issue of nickel exports has been the talk of the town in recent months. This is because the banning of nickel ore exports three years ago drew a lawsuit by the European Union at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the lawsuit, the WTO rejected Indonesia's defense because the policy violated a number of articles in the 1994 General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT), meaning that Indonesia was declared defeated.

After the decision was issued, a number of unanimous state officials said they would submit an appeal via appeal. Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said he was waiting for time to submit an appeal. But at this time, there is no definite information about this. "We are waiting for the WTO Appellate Body to convene again, we don't know when to appeal. Meanwhile, we are continuing with the nickel ore downstream program," Agus said in Jakarta, Tuesday (12/20).

Source: https://www.msn.com/id-id/ekonomi/ekonomi/cetak-rekor-volume-ekspor-nikel-indonesia-tembus-7784-ribu-ton/ar-AA16oR9r