Indonesia recorded a sharp rise in alumina exports during the first quarter of 2026, with outbound shipments increasing by more than 40 per cent year-on-year, according to data released by Statistics Indonesia. The country exported around 1.5 million tonnes of alumina between January and March, compared to nearly 1.1 million tonnes during the same period last year.
Despite the strong increase in export volumes, the total export value declined significantly due to lower global alumina prices. Export earnings fell nearly 28 per cent year-on-year to about $513.8 million during the quarter. Analysts said the decline reflected softer commodity pricing despite growing international demand for refined mineral products.
Indonesia has been aggressively expanding its downstream mineral processing industry following government restrictions on raw mineral exports. The country has encouraged investments in domestic alumina refineries and aluminium smelting facilities to strengthen value-added production and reduce dependence on raw commodity exports.
Industry experts believe Indonesia’s growing alumina production capacity could significantly influence global aluminium supply chains in the coming years. The country is increasingly positioning itself as a major player in the global aluminium industry, similar to its rapid emergence in the nickel sector over the past decade.
