Province

Bangka Belitung

Overview Economy

Bangka Belitung, heaven of tin mining and natural tourism

Located off the eastern coast of Sumatra, the archipelagic province of Bangka Belitung comprises several smaller islets along with its two main islands, Bangka and Belitung. Following its formal recognition as a separate province from South Sumatra in 2000, Bangka Belitung became the 31st province of Indonesia.

As of 2023, Bangka Belitung is home to a population of 1.52 million people, marking the province as the least populous in Sumatra island. The communities are comprised of seven big religions, Islam (48.92 percent), Buddhism (24.19 percent), Confucianism (14.59 percent), Christianity (6.08 percent), Catholicism (2.76 percent), Taoism (4.16 percent), and Hinduism (0.08 percent).

Bangka Belitung’s natural landscape is characterized by rainforests, mangrove forests, foliage, and oceans, which are home to a diverse array of marine life, including sea turtles, manta rays, and coral reefs filled with tropical species. One of the province’s most renowned natural features is the granite rock formations that dot the countryside. Additionally, Bangka Belitung boasts beaches such as Tanjung Tinggi Beach in Belitung, renowned for its golden sands and blue waters, and Parai Beach in Bangka, famous for its sunsets.

Beyond its natural splendor, Bangka Belitung is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The province is home to a blend of Malay, Chinese, and indigenous cultures, which have influenced the region's cuisine, architecture, and way of life. Traditional Malay houses adorned with intricate woodcarvings can be found in the province, along with bustling markets teeming with fresh seafood and spices.

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Economic development

Bangka Belitung’s economy has experienced a positive trend in recent years, with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increasing from Rp 57 trillion in 2022 to Rp 60 trillion in 2023. The processing industry sector contributed the most to the GRDP in 2023 with Rp 12.7 trillion or 21.15 percent, followed by the agriculture sector with Rp 7.4 trillion or 19.49 percent, and the trade sector with Rp 8.6 trillion or 15.69 percent.

Notably, the name "Bangka" in Bangka Belitung is derived from the Sanskrit word Wangka meaning tin, which has historically been the mainstay of the local economy. Tin mining in the province started in the first century during the Palembang Empire, and since then, the province has been a significant contributor to national tin mining output, accounting for around 90 percent. This substantial contribution has made Indonesia the world’s second-largest tin reserve holder, after China, with reserves totaling 800,000 tonnes.

However, the mining sector’s contribution to Bangka Belitung’s GRDP declined by a negative 1.20 percent in 2023, indicating a shift in the province’s economic independence from natural resources to other socioeconomic resources.

Nevertheless, despite this shift, the mining sector remains Bangka Belitung’s most lucrative business opportunity, with Rp 1.9 trillion in investment growth in 2023. This was followed by investments in the metals industry at Rp 1.8 trillion, the food industry at Rp 1.1 trillion, and agriculture at Rp 962 billion. Overall, the province received Rp 9 trillion in investment in 2023, including Rp 1.07 trillion from foreign investors and Rp 7,9 trillion from domestic investors.

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Latest News

March 9, 2026

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that the export value from the Bangka Belitung Islands Province reached US$157.93 million in January 2026, a 109 percent increase compared to US$75.57 million in January 2025.

"This increase in export value is due to increased tin exports from Bangka Belitung Islands to Asian countries," stated BPS Bangka Belitung Islands head Sugeng Arianto in Pangkalpinang City, Bangka Belitung Islands, on Mar. 3, 2026.

He added that the value of tin exports from Bangka Belitung Islands spared 203.3 percent year-on-year (yoy) from US$43.5 million in January 2025 to US$131.81 million in January 2026. In contrast, non-tin commodity exports from the province dropped 18.55 percent yoy from US$32.07 million in January 2025 to US$26.12 million in January 2026.

"Tin from the Bangka Belitung Islands Province is mostly exported to [other] Asian countries, with China being the primary destination," Sugeng revealed.

He elaborated that 66.93 percent of Bangka Belitung islands' tin exports, valued at US$88.23 million, went to China in January 2026. Meanwhile, South Korea accounted for 14.96 percent, followed by Singapore with 7.06 percent. The Netherlands and Taiwan round out the five top destinations of tin exports from Bangka Belitung Islands.

"These five main tin export destinations account for 96.25 percent of total tin exports from the Bangka Belitung Islands Province to the world. The total export value of these five destination countries in January 2026 was recorded at US$126.87 million," Sugeng divulged.

He also said that the value of tin exports to the five largest export destination countries grew by 249.31 percent yoy in January 2026. Exports to Singapore jumped  322.13 percent yoy, while those to China surged 228.07 percent yoy and those to South Korea increased by 204.20 percent yoy.

"Exports to the Netherlands had the highest growth at 916.43 percent," he said.

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