Indonesia’s April State Budget Deficit Narrows: Govt

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced that Indonesia’s state budget deficit narrowed in April 2026 compared to March, while the primary balance returned to surplus.

“In April, the deficit fell to IDR 164.4 trillion (USD 9.28 billion), equivalent to 0.64 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Minister Purbaya said during a press briefing at the Finance Ministry on Tuesday, May 19. In March, the deficit had reached IDR 240.1 trillion, or 0.93 percent of GDP.

The primary balance in April recorded a surplus of IDR 28 trillion, reversing a deficit of IDR 95.8 trillion in March. The primary balance reflects the difference between total state revenue and expenditure, excluding debt interest payments.

Minister Purbaya welcomed the April outcome, noting it contradicted economists’ projections that this year’s deficit could swell to 3 percent of GDP. The 2026 State Budget (APBN) sets the deficit target at 2.68 percent of GDP. “That’s just because their calculation method is magical,” he remarked.

He added that the primary balance is expected to continue improving as state revenue rises, particularly from taxes. Tax revenue in April reached IDR 646.3 trillion, up 16.1 percent year-on-year.

Overall state revenue in April climbed 13.3 percent to IDR 918.4 trillion, while expenditure surged 34.3 percent to IDR 1,082.8 trillion. (Gusti Panji)