iPhone 16 was banned in that country, illegal iPhone sales exploded

Although it is prohibited for sale in Indonesia,
iPhone 16 models managed to sneak into the country. Indonesian Ministry of Industryannounced that approximately 12,000 iPhone 16 devices have entered the country as of November 2024. This data was obtained through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system. The devices were introduced into the country in two different ways: First, through passenger luggage, where each individual can only bring two units and they are prohibited from being sold. The second way is diplomatic dispatches organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies.

Industry Ministry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arief said the CEIR system has more than 12,000 iPhone 16 He stated that he recorded the IMEI number, but that data from the Customs and Specialization Directorate (DJBC) under the Ministry of Finance showed that only 5,448 units entered the country between January and October 2024.

iPhone 16 was banned in that country, illegal iPhone sales exploded

Applein Indonesia iPhone
16 It has not yet been able to obtain a sales permit because it has not been able to complete the domestic component certification required to continue its sales. This certification requires that almost half of the components in the iPhone 16 are produced in Indonesia.

AppleAlthough the company has committed to establishing a $1 billion AirTag production facility in Batam, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita emphasized that this investment does not meet the criteria required to obtain the sales certificate for iPhones. The Batam factory is expected to produce 65% of the global supply of AirTags, but since AirTags are classified as accessories, they are not included in the regulations regarding mobile phones and tablets.

AppleAlthough it has not established production facilities in Indonesia, it has been operating application developer academies since 2018 in this large market with a population of 280 million. To meet Indonesia’s local content requirements, Apple must renew its investment commitments every three years. The previous $10 million investment commitment, which expired in 2023, requires a new agreement for the period 2024-2026.