This report profiles Indonesia’s property industry, covering market data and trends through the first half of 2015. The report also highlights key leading players in the sector including Lippo Karawaci Tbk (Lippo), Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk (BSD) and Ciputra Development Tbk (Ciputra).

Indonesia’s property industry has witnessed consistent growth in recent years. The country’s positive economic climate in tandem with a growing middle-class have boosted domestic demand and increased developers’ confidence to continuously launch property projects in Indonesia. This has resulted in higher sales of most of the property industry’s sub-sectors as well as higher rental rates.

However, after a strong growth in FY14, the local property market experienced a tough time in the first half of FY15. Property firms felt the heat of the government’s recent mortgage regulation, coupled with the country’s sluggish macroeconomic conditions. All the property segments, barring the industrial real estate, saw lower growth in key performance indicators as compared to 2014. Residential prices have decelerated and the trend is expected to continue through the second half of 2015.

With persistent residential property demand and supply growth, rental rates are expected to pick up and occupancy levels are likely to grow in line with more expatriates. Backed by Indonesia’s developing economy, especially domestic consumption, average rental rates for offices and retail space are also expected to increase along with occupancy.

Key Points:

• Between May-Nov 2013, Bank Indonesia’s (BI) policy rate saw steep increase of 1.75% in five phases, primarily due to the surge in inflation. Rise in interest rates has dented industrial growth and the residential property market as loans have become costlier.

• Indonesia has seen rapid urbanization as cities are the drivers of economic growth and job creation. The urban population increased from 43% in 2001 to 52% in 2013. As a result, the percentage of households residing in their own houses has declined gradually.

• The Asia-Pacific region saw subdued annual growth in the average house price index for Q1/2015 averaging 4.2% on a y/y basis, lower than 6.6% last year. The double-digit decline in Chinese property market pulled down the index as a whole. Indonesia saw a growth of 6.3% y/y.

• After gradual appreciation during 2010-12, the residential property price index shot up in 2013 due to higher demand. However, cooling measures undertaken by BI brought down the index’s growth post 3Q13.