Plastic waste exports in Indonesia
Indonesia: Plastic waste exports was 42,926 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Indonesia, 1989–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Indonesia recorded 42,926 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.4% on the previous year and down 81.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Indonesia peaked at 231,747 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12.31 tonnes, in 1990.
Indonesia ranks 19th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Indonesia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 34.81 tonnes | — |
| 1990 | 12.31 tonnes | -64.6% |
| 1991 | 625 tonnes | +4976.3% |
| 1992 | 611.53 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 492.04 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1994 | 918.36 tonnes | +86.6% |
| 1995 | 2,267 tonnes | +146.8% |
| 1996 | 2,660 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1997 | 1,435 tonnes | -46.0% |
| 1998 | 413.27 tonnes | -71.2% |
| 1999 | 5,632 tonnes | +1262.7% |
| 2000 | 13,734 tonnes | +143.9% |
| 2001 | 12,119 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2002 | 12,577 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 19,278 tonnes | +53.3% |
| 2004 | 30,108 tonnes | +56.2% |
| 2005 | 29,112 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 36,838 tonnes | +26.5% |
| 2007 | 58,167 tonnes | +57.9% |
| 2008 | 53,203 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 53,728 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 116,354 tonnes | +116.6% |
| 2011 | 166,430 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 2012 | 204,750 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 2013 | 231,747 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2014 | 193,842 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 2015 | 148,735 tonnes | -23.3% |
| 2016 | 203,586 tonnes | +36.9% |
| 2017 | 193,386 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 99,178 tonnes | -48.7% |
| 2019 | 73,277 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 2020 | 43,725 tonnes | -40.3% |
| 2021 | 44,422 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 42,926 tonnes | -3.4% |
Indonesia compared with similar countries
- Indonesia's 42,926 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 40.3× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Indonesia's 42,926 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 154.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Indonesia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +4976.3% | 12.31 tonnes | 625 tonnes |
| 1999 | +1262.7% | 413.27 tonnes | 5,632 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.81 tonnes | 34.81 tonnes | 34.81 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 1,507 tonnes | 12.31 tonnes | 5,632 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,886 tonnes | 12,119 tonnes | 58,167 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 163,128 tonnes | 73,277 tonnes | 231,747 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 43,691 tonnes | 42,926 tonnes | 44,422 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Indonesia
More environment data for Indonesia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.153 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.12 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Indonesia?
- Plastic waste exports in Indonesia was 42,926 tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Indonesia?
- The highest recorded value was 231,747 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Indonesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.31 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Indonesia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Indonesia ranks 19th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Indonesia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Indonesia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.