Today's Headlines in Indonesia

The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a regularly updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines cover political, economic and social matters. As a consequence of their recent nature, these topics may not have crystallized fully yet and can, therefore, lack a profound analysis. For publications with a more in-depth understanding of subjects, we refer you to our News, Financial or Business columns.

  • Consumer Price Index Indonesia: Inflation in 2015 Expected Below 3%

    Indonesian inflation may reach 2.9 percent year-on-year (y/y) only in full-year 2015, the lowest level since 2009 when inflation in Southeast Asia's largest economy was recorded at 2.78 percent (y/y). In recent years Indonesia's inflation has been volatile with peaks correlating with administered price adjustments (primarily fuel and electricity price hikes as the government is keen on limiting spending on subsidies). Another characteristic of Indonesia is that inflation is generally high (compared to advanced economies), which is in line with the higher economic growth pace (than that of advanced economies).

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  • Indonesia's Low Electricity Price Discourages Investment in Geothermal Energy

    Indonesia's push for usage of renewable energy sources, particularly geothermal energy, at the expense of usage of fossil fuels (such as oil or coal) has experienced a setback as there has been an impasse between state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a subsidiary of state-owned energy company Pertamina regarding the renewal of their power purchase deal for electricity generated by PGE's Lahendong and Kamojang plants. The existing deal expires at the end of the year.

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  • Cocoa Industry Indonesia: Challenges for Local Cocoa Farmers

    The Indonesian Cocoa Association (Askindo) expects that Indonesia's cocoa exports will decline 37 percent to 25,000 tons in 2016 from an estimated 40,000 tons this year. As such, Indonesian cocoa exports are set to continue their slide. In 2014 Indonesia still exported a total of 63,334 tons of cocoa. The country's cocoa exports have been falling as the government set a tougher tax regime since mid-2014. The export tax for cocoa is 10 percent, VAT at 10 percent and the income tax is 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, low domestic cocoa production is also partly responsible for the lower export performance.

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  • Coal Mining Update: Indonesia's Reference Coal Price Hits New Low

    Indonesia's benchmark thermal coal reference price (Harga Batubara Acuan, or HBA), set by the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, fell 1.69 percent (m/m) to USD $53.51 per metric ton (FOB) in December 2015, touching a new all-time record low since the this reference price was started in January 2009. Supriatna Suhala, Executive Director of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI), said the low coal price is caused by the global supply glut in combination with sluggish global economic growth.

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