JAKARTA (Jan 8): Indonesia may approve a coal output quota of "more or less" 600 million metric tonnes in 2026 and will adjust its nickel quota according to the industry's needs, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Thursday. The output quota level will be lower than the 790 million tonnes produced last year, though actual production by the world's top thermal coal exporter often surpasses the quota. The ministry has not provided data on how much nickel ore was produced in 2025. Indonesia's nickel smelter association FINI estimated nickel ore demand from domestic smelters in 2026 would reach around 340 million to 350 million metric tonnes from around 300 million tonnes in 2025, with new production capacity expected to come online this year. Concerns about Indonesia's reduced nickel output sent global prices surging in December.

Source: The Edge Markets January 08, 2026 08:16 UTC