Indonesia nickel ban spurs African mineral export curbs

By Adianto Simamora

Indonesia’s success in leveraging its nickel ore export ban to accelerate downstream investment is increasingly seen as a reference point for resource-rich developing countries, according to CRU’s Commodity Outlook 2026 report.

CRU notes that inspired by Indonesia’s example, several African governments are tightening control over their mineral sectors to retain a larger share of value domestically.

The trend, initially visible in battery metals and rare earths, is now extending to carbon steel raw materials.

The CRU said that the nickel ban policy in Indonesia was introduced at a time when China’s industrial growth remained strong and Indonesia could rely on domestic coal and low-cost labor.

Read also: Indonesian smelters restart seen tightening global copper concentrate market

This combination enabled the country to attract smelting and refining investment and capture greater value from its nickel resources within its borders.

The report said that Gabon has announced an export ban on raw manganese ore starting in 2029. Other African countries are introducing export restrictions on unprocessed ores and linking new mining licenses to commitments to develop local processing and refining capacity.

However, CRU cautions that replicating Indonesia’s nickel success will depend on market timing, infrastructure readiness, and policy consistency.

Editing by Alexander Ginting