Indonesia Strengthens Natural Resource Export Proceeds (DHE SDA) Policy, New Retention Rules Take Effect in June

Medan, May 22, 2026 — The Indonesian government has officially strengthened its Natural Resource Export Proceeds (DHE SDA) policy in an effort to enhance national economic resilience, support the stability of the rupiah, and increase the contribution of export earnings to the country's foreign exchange reserves.

The enhanced policy is regulated under Government Regulation (PP) No. 2 of 2026 and PP No. 21 of 2026, which provide the legal framework for optimizing the domestic retention of foreign exchange generated from natural resource commodity exports.

In an official statement, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs emphasized that export proceeds from natural resource commodities should return to Indonesia and generate greater benefits for the national economy amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.

“The DHE policy is a key instrument to ensure that the nation's natural resources—particularly strategic export commodities—make a meaningful contribution to Indonesia's financial resilience,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto during a public briefing on the DHE SDA policy in Jakarta on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

The government noted that, despite Indonesia's consistent trade surpluses, export earnings have not translated into a significant increase in the country's foreign exchange reserves because a substantial portion of export proceeds has continued to flow overseas shortly after transactions are completed.

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the implementation of the strengthened policy had been postponed several times before being officially scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2026.

“It was originally planned for January, then postponed to March, then April, and now June,” Purbaya said during the Jogjakarta Financial Festival at the Jogja Expo Centre on Friday (May 22, 2026).

According to Purbaya, strengthening the DHE SDA retention requirement is necessary because export proceeds have not been fully contributing to Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves.

“We have seen that our foreign exchange reserves have not increased as expected. Although Indonesia continues to record trade surpluses, those export earnings have not significantly boosted our reserves,” he said.

The government expects the revised policy to increase the domestic supply of U.S. dollars, thereby helping stabilize the rupiah exchange rate.

“This policy will bring a significant supply of U.S. dollars into our economy, which should strengthen the rupiah,” Purbaya added.

Under the latest implementation framework, exporters will not be required to retain their export proceeds exclusively through Indonesia's state-owned banking group (Himbara). The government will continue to allow the use of other eligible banks, provided they comply with applicable regulations, support international trade transactions, and meet existing supervisory requirements.

The government emphasized that the strengthened DHE SDA policy is not intended to restrict business activities, but rather to ensure that foreign exchange generated from Indonesia's natural resource exports contributes more effectively to economic stability, strengthens the country's foreign exchange reserves, and reinforces the resilience of the domestic financial sector.