Indonesia Keeps Positive Trade Balance for 58 Months in a Row, But Surplus Weakens

Jayanty Nada Shofa
March 17, 2025 | 12:39 pm
SHARE
Fishermen fish near the Tanjung Emas container port in Semarang on March 7, 2025. (Antara Photo/Aprillio Akbar)
Fishermen fish near the Tanjung Emas container port in Semarang on March 7, 2025. (Antara Photo/Aprillio Akbar)

Jakarta. Indonesia had been enjoying a positive trade balance for 58 consecutive months, but the monthly surplus had weakened in February, official data showed on Monday.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's overall trade surplus totaled $3.12 billion last month, giving Southeast Asia's largest economy its 58-month streak since May 2020.

Last month, Indonesia exported $21.98 billion worth of goods, while it imported $18.86 billion from its foreign partners.

The recently announced surplus is smaller than the $3.49 billion positive trade balance recorded in January 2025. Even so, it surpassed the $830 million surplus in February 2024, thanks to the rising exports of its top commodity palm oil, among others. BPS revealed that crude palm oil (CPO) exports had soared over 58 percent month-to-month, hitting $2.27 billion in February.

Advertisement

"The $4.84 billion surplus in our non-oil and gas trade in February helped us keep up the positive trend. The top contributing commodities include vegetable or animal fats and oils, mineral fuels, as well as iron and steel," BPS' head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti told a press briefing.

Indonesia saw a $1.72 billion deficit in its oil and gas trade last month, Amalia said.

Indonesia Keeps Positive Trade Balance for 58 Months in a Row, But Surplus Weakens
A farmer loads palm oil fresh fruit bunches onto his cart in Aceh on Feb. 18, 2025. Indonesia records rising palm oil exports that month. (Antara Photo/Syifa Yulinnas)

The US remained Indonesia's top contributor to the positive trend as Jakarta's surplus with Washington topped $1.5 billion in February, followed by India (nearly $1.3 billion), and the Philippines ($753.3 million). The latest figures further cemented the possibility of Indonesia being a future target for US President Donald Trump's tariffs as the American politician is targeting his country's top sources of foreign trade deficit. BPS reported that Indonesia posted a $291.1 million surplus when trading electrical machinery and equipment with the US.

Indonesia booked the largest deficit with China in February, running a negative trade balance of almost $1.7 billion with Beijing that month. The nearly $1.4 billion deficit in Indonesia's electrical machinery and equipment trade with China made up the lion's share of these figures. The neighboring Australia became Indonesia's second-largest source of deficit, reaching $428.6 million over the said period. In third place was Brazil ($168.1 million), BPS announced.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

Related Articles


Business Jun 2, 2025 | 1:41 pm

Indonesia’s Trade Surplus Plunges to $160 Million in April Amid Soaring Imports

Cumulatively, Indonesia booked a $11.07 billion trade surplus from January to April 2025.
Business Apr 14, 2025 | 4:58 pm

Despite Looming Tariffs, Indonesia’s Vanilla Still in Demand in US Market

Lombok’s organic vanilla exports to the US continue despite 32% tariffs and a 30% production drop due to heavy rain in early 2025.
Business Mar 17, 2025 | 12:39 pm

Indonesia Keeps Positive Trade Balance for 58 Months in a Row, But Surplus Weakens

Southeast Asia's largest economy Indonesia continues to export more than it imports, according to BPS.
Business Mar 3, 2025 | 4:16 pm

Indonesia's Rice Production to Hit Record High at 13.95 Million Tons in Early 2025

A record-high rice production in January-April 2025 paves the way for Indonesia to not import its staple food this year.
News Feb 19, 2025 | 3:47 pm

ITB Professor Brian Yuliarto Appointed Tech Minister in Prabowo’s First Cabinet Reshuffle

The inauguration ceremony marked President Prabowo Subianto’s first cabinet reshuffle since forming his Red and White Cabinet in October.
Business Feb 17, 2025 | 12:25 pm

Indonesia Retains Trade Surplus Run for 57th Consecutive Month

Indonesia's trade surplus amounted to $3.45 billion in January, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
Lifestyle Feb 3, 2025 | 6:11 pm

Malaysia Records Highest Tourist Arrivals to Indonesia in 2024, Swiss Spend Most

The Central Statistics Agency reported that the number of international tourist arrivals to Indonesia reached 13.9 million visits in 2024
Special Updates Jan 22, 2025 | 9:38 am

Airlangga Hartarto Announces 100% Export Proceeds Deposit Requirement for Natural Resources

Indonesia updates export proceeds rule, requiring 100% deposit for a year to strengthen economy, with exemptions for small exporters.
Business Dec 27, 2024 | 5:32 pm

2024 Roundup on Indonesia’s Foreign Trade Deals

Aside from a shift in presidency, the year 2024 has witnessed quite a progress in Indonesia’s attempt to boost its exports.

The Latest


Business 1 hours ago

Indonesia Prepares New Poverty Line Formula to Align with Global Standards

In April, the World Bank’s Macro Poverty Outlook reported that 60.3 percent of Indonesians lived below the poverty line in 2024.
News 4 hours ago

Jakarta's Air Quality Deemed Unhealthy, Ranks as Second Most Polluted City Globally This Morning

The IQAir website ranked Jakarta as the second most polluted city in the world around 5:42 a.m., on Friday.
News 4 hours ago

Indonesia Condemns Israel’s Attack on Iran, Warns of Broader Conflict

Indonesia sharply criticizes Israel’s major attack on the Iranian capital of Tehran on early Friday.
News 4 hours ago

Iranian State TV Confirms Head of Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami Killed in Israeli Attack

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency is quoting an anonymous official saying Iran will offer a “decisive” response to Israel’s attack.
News 5 hours ago

Indonesia Seeks Faster Repatriation of Hajj Pilgrims via Additional Flights

A large-scale repatriation operation is currently underway and is expected to continue until next month.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED