Indonesia Eyes $20 Billion Customs Revenue in 2026, Driven by Coal and Gold Duties
Jakarta. The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) is targeting Rp336 trillion ($20.11 billion) in customs and excise revenue in 2026, even as the government rules out raising tobacco excise rates or introducing a long-discussed levy on sugary drinks.
The 2026 target represents a modest increase from the Rp334 trillion projected in the 2025 state budget outlook. Customs officials said the goal would be achieved through tighter supervision, risk-based enforcement, and technology-driven reforms, rather than higher tax rates.
“Without raising tariffs, we remain optimistic about securing the revenue target through stronger oversight, system modernization, and the use of technology,” Nirwala Dwi Heryanto, director of communications and user guidance at the customs agency, said at a media briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Indonesia had previously considered introducing an excise on sugar-sweetened beverages and raising tobacco excise rates, but both measures have been shelved amid concerns about inflation and consumer purchasing power.
On import duties, customs plans to expand its “Smart Customs” platform, which uses artificial intelligence to assess customs value, product classification, free trade agreement eligibility, and risk profiling. The agency will also optimize the use of scanners and AI-based risk analysis to curb practices such as undervaluation, misdeclaration, and revenue leakage.
Export duties will focus on expanding the taxable base by strengthening oversight of new commodities, particularly gold and coal. This will be supported by upgrades to customs laboratories, modernization of testing facilities and improved technical capacity among staff.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has previously said the government could collect as much as Rp23 trillion in export duties from gold and coal next year, including about Rp3 trillion from gold and Rp20 trillion from coal.
In the excise segment, customs will intensify nationwide enforcement operations against illegal excisable goods, particularly cigarettes, while expanding AI-based monitoring of excise stamp orders. The approach aims to improve compliance and reduce illicit trade without increasing the excise burden on consumers.
Customs revenue performance in 2025 has remained resilient despite global trade uncertainty. As of November, total collections reached Rp269.4 trillion, up 4.5% year-on-year and equivalent to 89.3% of the full-year state budget target.
Import duties stood at Rp44.9 trillion, down 5.8% from a year earlier, reflecting softer import activity. Export duties rose sharply to Rp26.3 trillion, up 52.2% year-on-year, largely driven by higher crude palm oil prices. Excise revenue reached Rp198.2 trillion, growing 2.8% despite a decline in production among top-tier cigarette manufacturers.
Nirwala said the agency would continue to balance enforcement with facilitation, stressing the importance of protecting the public while safeguarding state revenue.
“We are committed to maintaining strong oversight and enforcement, securing state revenue and supporting national economic growth through a professional and high-integrity customs administration,” he said.
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