Methanol imports rise 7.4% in H1 as Malaysia extends lead as top supplier

By Pandu Setiabudi

Indonesia imported 94,700 tonnes of methanol in June 2026, down 29.0% from the previous month but up 27.0% from a year earlier, according to data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) on Aug. 3. Import value fell 33.8% month on month but more than doubled from a year earlier to US$52.6 million.

During the January-June period, methanol imports totaled 666,600 tonnes, up 7.4% from the same period last year, while import value rose 47.6% to US$299.7 million from US$203.1 million, reflecting higher methanol prices.

Malaysia remained Indonesia's largest supplier, shipping 53,500 tonnes in June and 328,600 tonnes during the first half, up 23.4% year on year. Other major suppliers were Brunei Darussalam with 103,200 tonnes, Oman with 58,200 tonnes and China with 47,100 tonnes.

Dumai remained the country's main import gateway, handling 27,700 tonnes in June and 173,800 tonnes during the first half, followed by Gresik, Merak and Kabil/Panau.

For the full year 2025, Indonesia imported 1.30 million tonnes of methanol worth US$406.3 million. Malaysia was the largest supplier with 574,100 tonnes, while Dumai remained the country's main import gateway, handling 331,800 tonnes.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak