In June 2025, the Indonesian Government overhauled its import control framework covering all sectors by revoking the previous regulations* and introducing a new sector-based regime, including for chemicals, hazardous materials, and mining materials sector. This change was formalised through Minister of Trade Regulation No. 20 of 2025 on the Policy and Regulation of Import of Chemicals, Hazardous Materials, and Mining Materials, aiming to simplify procedures and provide clearer guidance for import-related business activities.
The regulation covers eleven categories of goods, including lubricant raw materials, cement clinker and cement, rough diamonds, non-pharmaceutical precursors, oil and natural gas, nitrocellulose (NC), commercial explosives, ozone-depleting substances (ODS), hazardous materials, hydrofluorocarbons, and certain chemicals (Bahan Kimia Tertentu or BKT).
Importers of these commodities must secure the required documentation before goods enter Indonesian customs territory. While the specific requirements vary depending on the product, the framework recognises three main types of documentation:
- Registration validation — either as a Registered Importer (Importir Terdaftar or IT) for trade purposes (API-U holders) or as a Producer Importer (Importir Produsen or IP) for self-use (API-P holders).
- Import Approval (Persetujuan Impor or PI) — formal authorisation from the Ministry of Trade to conduct import activities.
- Surveyor Report (Laporan Surveyor or LS) — verification results from an appointed surveyor.
One of the most notable changes is the relaxation of bureaucratic requirements for certain BKT commodities. Importers of BKT under HS Codes 28.35 and 29.15 are now exempt from obtaining a PI, requiring only an LS. For other products, the requirements remain largely unchanged from previous regulations — for example, oil and natural gas imports still require a PI, while hazardous materials continue to require IT/IP, PI, and LS.
The regulation also adjusts the scope of exemptions. Notably, it removes the exemption previously granted for the import of oil and gas for motorsport purposes, regardless of whether conducted for non-commercial use by importers that unable to have Business Identification Number (Nomor Induk Berusaha or NIB) which is valid as an Importer Identification Number (API) or importers that may have an NIB which is valid as an API.
By clarifying requirements while easing processes for certain commodities, this regulation is intended to improve administrative efficiency, strengthen oversight, and provide greater certainty for businesses engaged in importing regulated goods.
*The Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 on Import Policies and Regulation, including its amendments, which was lastly amended by the Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 8 of 2024 on the Third Amendment of The Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 on Import Policies and Regulation, including its amendments, which was lastly amended by the Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 8 of 2024