Indonesia Posts a Record Trade Surplus of USD 497 Million

BPS-Chief-Suryamin.-300x173.jpg" alt="Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Chief Suryamin." width="300" height="173" /> Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Chief Suryamin.

Jakarta, 11 Rajab 1437/17 April 2016 (MINA) – Indonesias balance of trade recorded a surplus of US$497 million in March 2016 with exports reaching $11.79 billion and imports touching $11.30 billion, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

“The monthly surplus fell slightly but (the balance of trade) continued to record a surplus every month,” BPS Chief Suryamin said here on Friday.

The $497 million surplus resulted from trade in the non-oil/non-gas sector which enjoyed a surplus of $797.7 million, while trade in the oil/gas sector suffered a deficit of $300.7 million, he said.

In terms of volume, the balance of trade also saw a surplus of 28.36 million tons, resulting from a surplus of 29.02 million tons from trade in the non-oil/non-gas sector, while trade in the oil/gas sector recorded a deficit of 0.66 million tons, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Antara.

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“Cumulatively, it (the surplus) increased when compared with 2013 but declined in comparison with 2015,” he said.

The balance of trade with China, which is Indonesia’s main partner, recorded a deficit of $4.29 billion in the January-March 2016 period. Just in March, the deficit reached $1.24 billion, he said.

Indonesia also saw the trade deficit with Thailand expanding to $1.30 billion in the first three months of 2016 and $515.6 million just in March.

However, Indonesias trade with the United States recorded a surplus of $2 billion in the first quarter of 2016 and $643.1 million in March alone.

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Indonesias exports in March 2016 rose 4.25 percent to $11.79 billion from $11.31 billion a month earlier. Compared to the same month last year, the exports in March 2016 fell by 13.51 percent.

Meanwhile, imports in March 2016 reached $11.30 billion, up 11.01 percent from $10.17 billion in February 2016. However, the March 2016 imports tumbled 10.41 percent compared with the same month last year. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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