Indonesia’s finance minister confirmed Friday that the nation has abandoned any consideration of charging fees to vessels navigating through the Malacca Strait, following international concern over earlier remarks about monetizing the crucial shipping corridor.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa reinforced a statement made Thursday by Indonesia’s foreign minister, emphasizing that the Southeast Asian nation will not implement any tariff system for the strategic waterway.
During a Friday press briefing, Purbaya stated that Indonesia remains committed to following the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes international guidelines for maritime passages used by global shipping.
The clarification came after Purbaya created international concern Wednesday when he publicly discussed potential methods for countries to charge vessel fees in the strait, though he had noted such arrangements would not be feasible.
The controversy emerged as Asian policymakers grapple with maritime security challenges following the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East, raising concerns about other critical shipping passages.
The Malacca Strait spans 900 kilometers (550 miles) and borders Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The U.S. Energy Administration has designated it as the world’s largest “oil transit chokepoint,” serving as the most direct maritime route connecting East Asia with the Middle East and Europe.
According to data from Malaysia’s Marine Department, more than 102,500 vessels—primarily commercial ships—passed through the Malacca Strait in 2025, representing an increase from approximately 94,300 ships in 2024.
