Indonesia’s Copper Concentrate Export Price Rises on Global Demand

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade has set the export reference price (ERP) for copper concentrate containing at least 15 percent copper at USD 6,792.97 per wet metric ton (WMT) for the second half of March 2026, marking a 1.63 percent increase from USD 6,684.18 per WMT in the first half of the month.

“The increase in the ERP for copper concentrate in the second period of March 2026 is due to rising global demand for copper, primarily from the electricity, manufacturing, and technology sectors,” said Tommy Andana in Jakarta on Saturday, March 14, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

The benchmark prices are stipulated in Trade Ministerial Decree No. 422/2026 on Export Reference Prices and Reference Prices for Mining Products Subject to Export Duties, which will apply from March 15 to 31.

The export reference price for gold also rose to USD 165,118.45 per kilogram, up from USD 161,568.53 per kilogram in the previous period. Meanwhile, the reference price for gold increased to USD 5,135.76 per troy ounce from USD 5,025.35 per troy ounce.

Tommy said the increase in mineral prices that make up copper concentrate served as the basis for calculating the latest ERP. During the data collection period, copper prices rose by 0.62 percent, while gold and silver increased by 2.20 percent and 5.76 percent, respectively.

“As for gold, the increase in ERP and HR is driven by rising demand for precious metals for both industrial and investment purposes,” he said.

The ERP and HR are determined based on technical recommendations from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, which refer to market data from the London Metal Exchange for copper and the London Bullion Market Association for gold and silver.

“The setting of ERP and HR is carried out through inter-ministerial coordination involving the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, the Finance Ministry, and the Industry Ministry,” Tommy added. ***