Indonesia bans import of 12 products, impacting some Thai exports

BANGKOK: The Indonesian Ministry of Trade has issued a new regulation banning the import of 12 specific products, a move that impacts key Thai exports to Indonesia, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP). Citing a report from the Office of Commercial Affairs in Jakarta, Indonesia, Ministerial Regulation No. 47/2025 on prohibited imports was announced on December 29, 2025, and came into effect on January 1, 2026. The policy’s primary goal is to protect local farmers and industries. The import ban affects 12 product categories, potentially impacting Thailand’s exports to Indonesia, particularly key exports such as sugar, rice, and products within the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. The office in Jakarta has tracked and gathered information from relevant sectors, revealing that sugar, classified under HS Code 1701, which includes raw and certain types of refined sugar, is subject to the import ban. This change affects Thailand as a major ...