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Who are the top 5 Indonesia export by country destinations in Q1 2025?
In Q1 2025, Indonesia’s top five export destinations were China, the United States, India, Japan, and Singapore, based on data from the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and TradeInt.
- China: $14.04 billion (~22.9%) – Key imports: iron & steel, mineral fuels, nickel, palm oil.
- United States: $7.30 billion (~11.9%) – Driven by electronics, apparel, footwear, and rubber.
- India: $4.28 billion (~8.7%) – Dominated by palm oil and coal demand.
- Japan: $4.05 billion (~7.9%) – Imports coal, copper, automotive components, and seafood.
- Singapore: $4.32 billion (~7%) – Acts as a re-export hub for petroleum, chemicals, and electronics.
| Rank | Country | Estimated Import Value ($USD) | Share of Total Exports | Key Import Sectors | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | $14.04 billion | 22.9% | Iron & steel, mineral fuels, nickel, palm oil, machinery | China remains the largest buyer, especially of raw minerals and palm oil, primarily for fueling China's industrial manufacturing and energy demand. |
| 2 | United States | $7.30 billion | 11.9% | Electrical machinery, apparel, footwear, rubber, palm oil | US imports continue to rise, driven by apparel, footwear, electronics, and semiconductors. |
| 3 | India | $4.28 billion | 8.7% | Palm oil, coal, rubber, animal/vegetable oil | India’s demand is led by palm oil and coal, critical Indonesian export commodities to India. |
| 4 | Japan | $4.05 billion | 7.9% | Coal, copper, nickel, automotive, rubber, seafood | Japan imports mainly energy (coal), metals, and automotive & rubber products. |
| 5 | Malaysia | $3.42 billion | 5% | Mineral fuels and oils (coal briquettes), fatty acids (palm oil), chemical fertilizers | Opportunities exist for Indonesian exporters in energy, chemicals, and raw materials as Malaysia continues to serve as a regional processing hub. |
Accordingly to www.tradeint.com’s global trade database, Indonesia’s Q1 2025 exports totaled $66.6 billion, a 7% year-on-year increase, but the growth was not merely numerical. It marked a recalibration of strategic alignments, policy priorities, and Indonesia’s evolving role in the global value chain.
| Time | Export value (USD billion) |
|---|---|
| Q1 2020 | 41.8 |
| Q1 2021 | 48.9 |
| Q1 2022 | 66.1 |
| Q1 2023 | 67.1 |
| Q1 2024 | 62.3 |
| Q1 2025 | 66.6 |
#1. Top 1 Indonesia export by country in Q1 2025: China | $14.04 billion
China Needs Inputs. Indonesia Holds the Leverage.
With an export value of over $14.04 billion, China represented more than one-fifth of Indonesia’s figure in Q1 2025 and became the biggest export destination during this period.
The most significant export category to China was metals and mineral fuels. Steel led the list, making up almost 29.2% of all shipments. The second biggest metal import was nickel, which represented 10.1% of China’s total figure. Both are essential inputs for China’s rapidly expanding industries, particularly in construction, electronics, and electric vehicles.
China also imported over $3.4 billion worth of mineral fuels and oils from Indonesia to support its rapidly growing energy consumption, which has been increasing across different sectors. In 2024, the sector with the sharpest year-on-year increase in energy consumption was animal husbandry, fishery, and agriculture.
Among all mineral fuels and oil imports, which product took up the largest share? By which companies in China?
You can search China’s top imports on China’s Trade Profile and find out who the importers and exporters are using TradeInt’s Global Trade Search tool
Another noteworthy sector was animal and vegetable oil, particularly palm oil, which holds significant value in China’s food processing and cosmetics industries. Analysts predict China may import up to 8 million tons of palm oil by the end of 2025.
| Product Name | Share Ranking (%) |
|---|---|
| Steel | 29.16 |
| Mineral fuels | 20.50 |
| Nickel | 10.13 |
| Animal and vegetable oils | 8.05 |
| Others | 32.16 |
What’s driving this?
- RCEP and ASEAN-China FTA frameworks promote tariff-free flows.
- China’s push for upstream security in steel and energy.
- Indonesia’s raw-to-refined export policy benefits processors like China.
This is more than just global trade; it’s a synchronized supply chain built on policy predictability and data-driven industrial need.
#2. Top 2 Indonesia export by country in Q1 2025: United States - $7.3 billion
Tariffs Shift, But Demand Holds. Indonesia’s Margin Is Its Advantage.
The U.S. remains Indonesia’s top non-Asian buyer, absorbing $7.3B in Q1, and commanding a $4.3B trade surplus. In an election year, policy winds are shifting, but Indonesia’s position is increasingly resilient.
Top categories include:
- Electronics & motors (16.7%): powering U.S. tech and appliance sectors.
- Garments, leather goods, footwear: increasingly diversified away from China.
- Food ingredients (cocoa, palm-based): feeding the U.S. packaged food boom.
The Trump administration’s July tariff revision lowered Indonesia’s import tax from 32% to 19%, signaling that Jakarta is still seen as a preferred low-cost partner.
Unlike volatile sourcing zones, Indonesia offers U.S. buyers scale, policy stability, and labor-cost advantage, a rare trifecta in 2025. With global sourcing zones facing increasing disruption and cost volatility, US.S buyers risk delayed shipments and margin pressure. This makes Indonesia’s manufacturing sectors, such as furniture and smart components, a strategic pivot they can’t affrod to overlook.
Platforms like TradeInt empower traders with the latest supply-chain related insights to capitalise on such strategic markets before the window narrows.
Book a FREE platform demo with a trade expert to learn how our platform can help you seize stable sourcing and exporting opportunities overseas.
#3. Top 3 Indonesia export by country in Q1 2025: India - $4.28 billion
Short-Term Headwinds, Long-Term Corridor
With a share of 6.43% of the total figure, India was the third-largest export destination for Indonesia in the first quarter of 2025, receiving $4.28 billion worth of goods. However, this represented a decline of nearly 14% compared to the same period in 2024, according to TradeInt’s global trade database. The drop is partly due to new import restrictions and the overall global economic slowdown.
Despite the decrease, India remains a critical market for Indonesia export by country. TradeInt’s records showed that coal and briquettes made up 31.9% of exports to India, reflecting the country’s increasing energy demand for its infrastructure and industrial growth.
In addition, India’s large food processing industry and heavy edible oil consumption make it a key buyer of Indonesian palm oil. Therefore, this product accounted for 16.5% of the total figure.
The economic relations between India and Indonesia have been growing significantly. Indonesia has risen to become the largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region after Singapore. Their bilateral trade value is under $30 billion, and it can potentially quadruple in the next 10 years. This exponential growth is driven partly by Indian firms’ investment in Indonesian raw materials, including in pharmaceutical, agri tech, and mining.
| Year | Trade Value (USD Billion) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 17.90 |
| 2021 | 24.68 |
| 2022 | 26.04 |
| 2023 | 38.84 |
| 2024 | 29.40 |
The two economies also have solid trade complementarity, as India’s imports from Indonesia center around coal, palm oil, and minerals, while its exports include refined petroleum, agricultural products, vehicles, and telecom equipment.
Despite India-Indonesia trade ties strengthen, many overlook Indonesia’s global export power-valued at over $300 billion in 2024, led by palm oil, coal and electronics.
You may be interested: Indonesia’s top 5 export product list 2024
#4. Top 4 Indonesia export by country in Q1 2025: Japan - $4.05 billion
Green Energy Needs a Grey Partner. Enter Indonesia.
In fourth place is Japan, which imported $4.05 billion worth of goods from Indonesia in Q1 2025, representing 6.09% of total exports.
Japan’s import demand is driven by its heavy dependence on energy and raw materials. It is the world’s fifth-largest energy consumer and relies almost entirely on imports for its energy needs. Mineral fuels and oils, including coal, briquettes, and petroleum gas, formed the largest export category, accounting for 29.3%.
In addition to fuels, Japan imported motors, electrical equipment, and parts (10.1%), as well as nickel and its related products (6.4%). The demand for nickel is growing due to its essential role in battery manufacturing and steel production, both of which are key to Japan’s industrial and energy transition goals.
Japan and Indonesia are deepening trade ties through the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA), which eliminates tariffs on 80% of traded goods. Broader frameworks like the ASEAN-Japan trade cooperation also contribute to this growth.
Japan’s focus on decarbonization and sustainable energy has led to a surge in biomass imports from Indonesia. In June 2025, Japanese companies committed to importing 640,000 tons of biomass from Indonesia to fuel green energy programs. As such, Indonesia is positioning itself as a reliable supplier of certified, low-emission raw materials in Japan’s green supply chains
#5. Top 5 Indonesia export by country in Q1 2025: Malaysia - $3.42 billion
This isn’t competition, it’s ASEAN Integration.
Malaysia rounds out the top five export destinations for Indonesia, accounting for $3.42 billion or 5.14% of total exports in Q1 2025.
Despite being a significant oil and gas exporter itself, Malaysia increasingly relies on mineral fuels and oils from Indonesia due to rising domestic consumption and plans to transition toward renewable energy. Chemical products – including rare earth elements and organic compounds – also made up a significant portion of exports, as Malaysia’s production capacity has stagnated.
Malaysia’s imports of mineral fuels and oils have seen a sharp upward trend since 2008.
You may read: Malaysia’s Top 10 Import Product List 2025 Guide for a more in-depth analysis of Malaysia’s fuel-related imports
Out of $3.42 billion worth of animal and palm oil accounted for nearly 70% of the total export value. Despite being the world’s second-largest exporter of palm oil, Malaysia still imports palm oil to support its refining industry. This strategy also helps Malaysia manage its supply security compared to relying solely on domestic production
Outlooks for 2025 and beyond
Looking ahead, Indonesia’s export strategy is undergoing significant shifts in terms of export categories and markets.
The government’s decision to ban the export of raw minerals and promote processing is pushing producers toward value-added products such as nickel-based steel, electric vehicle batteries, and refined chemical goods. This change will likely broaden Indonesia’s reach into both developed and emerging markets.
Changing market dynamics
China remains Indonesia’s largest export market, but is expected to see a decline in export value in 2025 due to China’s slowdown in economic growth. Similarly, there is a potential drop in Indonesian exports to India in 2025, particularly in thermal coal, due to the latter’s decreased demand. Additionally, Indonesian palm oil exports to India have also seen a decline.
On the contrary, exports to the US, Europe, and ASEAN markets can see noteworthy growth. The US market is expected to be a major growth engine in 2025, thanks to the recent trade deal reached by the two countries. In addition, Indonesia’s advantage in competitively priced manufactured goods and commodities helps keep US demand robust despite tariff challenges.
Exports to ASEAN countries are predicted to grow steadily due to strong integration under ASEAN frameworks and ongoing supply chain linkages, particularly in mineral fuels, palm oil, electrical machinery, and processed goods. Currently, Indonesia has 19 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, which have provided the country with improved market access to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as to China, Australia, and Japan.
Moreover, Indonesia is close to finalizing trade agreements with the EU and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which will facilitate greater market access for Indonesian products, especially palm oil, fisheries, and automotive components.
TradeInt: Supporting Smarter Export Decisions
Indonesia’s export environment is evolving, shaped by shifting demand, regulatory reform, and new market access agreements. As exporters and analysts navigate these transitions, the ability to track live data by country, product category, and trading partner has become essential.
TradeInt provides the tools to do exactly that, from HS-code-level insights and trade route analysis to market monitoring across ASEAN, China, India, the US, and beyond.
For stakeholders seeking clarity in an increasingly fragmented trade map, TradeInt delivers actionable visibility, backed by data-driven intelligence.
