iPhone 16 Arrivals in Indonesia: 12,000 Units Bypass Sales Ban

Despite the sales ban in Indonesia, the iPhone 16 is making a surprising entrance as approximately 12,000 units have reportedly arrived in the country. This information comes from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, which indicated that as of November 2024, these devices were recorded under the Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). The registered devices include those brought through personal luggage—capped at two units per traveler and not intended for resale—as well as diplomatic shipments coordinated by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. While the Ministry reported the higher figure of 12,000 units, data provided by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) revealed a lower count of 5,448 units entering Indonesia between January and October 2024. Apple has yet to comply with local regulations that require a Domestic Component Level certification, which mandates that nearly 50% of the iPhone 16's components be domestically produced. Although Apple has established application developer academies in Indonesia since 2018, it currently has no manufacturing facilities in the country, despite its vast market of 280 million people. The company needs to maintain its investment commitments every three years to satisfy local content requirements. With the previous $10 million commitment concluding in 2023, Apple is now seeking a renewed agreement for the investment period of 2024-2026.