January 5, 2026 | 11:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Trade announced that steel exports to Australia have officially reopened following its decision to drop an antidumping investigation into Indonesian hot-rolled deformed steel reinforcing bar (rebar). "The suspension of this investigation is a positive signal for the foreign trade performance of the steel sector," Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Budi spoke in response to a termination report from the Australian Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) issued on December 16, 2025. This 2025 investigation into Indonesian rebar was the second attempt by Australia, following a similar case in 2017. That earlier case ended in 2018 without any penalties. Australia eventually halted the latest probe, which began in September 2024 and targeted imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
In the final report, Australia found that Indonesia's dumping margin for rebar was only 1.3 percent. This figure is classified as de minimis, meaning it falls below the 2 percent threshold required for penalties. As a result, Indonesian rebar will not face antidumping duties. Budi believes this decision will restore export volumes that were delayed during the legal process.
"The reopening of the Australian market will strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesian steel products in the Land Down Under," the Minister added.
Acting Director General of Foreign Trade Tommy Andana noted that the move strengthens Indonesia’s access to global markets. He pointed out that trade safeguard instruments are becoming more common worldwide. To handle these challenges, Tommy stressed that Indonesian businesses must stay compliant and work closely with partner countries during any investigation.
Reza Pahlevi Chairul, Director of Trade Safeguards, echoed this sentiment. He praised the commitment of Indonesian export companies during the long process. He noted that their cooperative attitude helped ensure a fair and objective conclusion. "In antidumping investigations, the cooperative attitude of the company is the most determining factor in the final outcome," Reza remarked.
Indonesian rebar exports to Australia grew steadily between 2020 and 2025. In 2020, exports were worth US$ 4.7 million. By 2021, that number jumped to US$ 31.1 million. The trade peaked in 2023 at US$ 55.6 million before falling to around US$ 31 million in 2024. The Ministry of Trade reported that this decline continued through late 2025 as uncertainty from the investigation hit the market.
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