Indonesian export ban a mixed bag for neighbors

Indonesia's recent ban on mineral ore exports aims to force foreign companies to start processing in the country.

|
Yusuf Ahmad/Reuters
An excavator digs for nickel ore at Mobi Jaya Persada's mining area, Dampala village in Marowali, central Sulawesi, January 12, 2014. Hundreds of small Indonesian mines, like nickel miner Mobi Jaya Persada, are preparing for the worst after the government imposed a controversial mineral export ban on Sunday that could force them to close down.

Indonesia’s recently announced ban on mineral ore exports is a bid to force foreign companies to invest in processing plants within the country – and not just send its mineral resources abroad for others to refine.

But it’s already having an impact far from Indonesia.

Metals indexes rose in Philippines, for example, a country with a nickel mining industry that stands to benefit from the Indonesia export ban.

“It’s the usual ‘one person’s loss is someone else’s gain,’” notes our correspondent covering Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

But it ultimately may hurt China, which currently imports bauxite, among other things, from Indonesia – and has angered Jakarta by stockpiling loads of it.... For the rest of the story, continue reading at our new business publication Monitor Frontier Markets.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.
QR Code to Indonesian export ban a mixed bag for neighbors
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2014/0117/Indonesian-export-ban-a-mixed-bag-for-neighbors
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe