Indonesia's Export-Import Flows with Hormuz Strait Nations Explained

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s statistics agency says the impact of escalating tensions involving Iran on the country’s trade with the Middle East remains under review, particularly as three of Indonesia’s trading partners sit along the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Ateng Hartono, Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at Statistics Indonesia (BPS), said any potential disruption must be carefully assessed. Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are all located along the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments.

Indonesia-Iran Trade

In 2025, Indonesia’s non-oil and gas imports from Iran totaled US$8.4 million. The main products were fruits worth US$5.9 million, iron and steel at US$0.8 million, and machinery and mechanical equipment at US$0.7 million, Ateng said at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports to Iran reached US$249.1 million last year. Major export items included fruits valued at US$86.4 million, vehicles and parts at US$34.1 million, and animal or vegetable fats and oils at US$22 million.

Trade with Oman

Trade volumes with Oman were significantly larger. Indonesia’s non-oil and gas imports from Oman stood at US$718.8 million in 2025, dominated by iron and steel worth US$590.5 million, organic chemicals at US$56.7 million, and salt, sulfur, stone, and cement products at US$44.2 million.

Exports to Oman reached US$428.8 million, consisting mainly of animal or vegetable fats and oils at US$227.7 million, vehicles and parts at US$64.2 million, and mineral fuels at US$48.1 million.

Trade with the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates remains Indonesia’s largest trading partner among the three. Indonesia’s imports from the UAE totaled US$1.4 billion in 2025.

Key export commodities to the UAE included precious metals and jewelry worth US$511.1 million, aluminum and related products at US$181.6 million, and salt, sulfur, stone, and cement at US$43.2 million.

Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports to the UAE reached US$4.0 billion in 2025. Major shipments included animal or vegetable fats and oils valued at US$510.3 million, vehicles and parts at US$363.5 million, and precious metals and jewelry at US$183.6 million.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Roughly 20 percent of global oil consumption and about 20–25 percent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade passes through the narrow waterway.

Concerns over potential disruptions intensified after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

On Sunday, March 1, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had attacked three US- and UK-owned oil tankers in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz using missiles, setting them ablaze.

In a statement carried by its official outlet, Sepah News, the IRGC also said it targeted US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Indonesian authorities have not yet announced any trade restrictions, but officials say developments in the Strait of Hormuz are being closely monitored due to their potential impact on global energy flows and supply chains.

Read: Will Iran War Send Oil Prices Above $100 a Barrel?

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