Rupiah Strengthens as Rising Reserves Bolster Indonesia’s External Resilience

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s external resilience is once again in the spotlight as the rupiah closed stronger against the US dollar on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, supported by an increase in foreign exchange reserves.

The currency gained 8 points or 0.05 percent, settling at IDR 17,632 per dollar, compared to the previous close of IDR 17,640.

Currency analyst and Director of Laba Forexindo Berjangka Ibrahim Assuabi explained that the rupiah’s movement was influenced by the latest reserve data.

“Bank Indonesia recorded foreign exchange reserves at USD 146.5 billion at the end of August 2026, up from USD 145.3 billion at the end of July,” he said in a written statement, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

According to Bank Indonesia, the increase was driven by tax and service receipts, government external loan withdrawals, and stabilization policies aimed at maintaining rupiah exchange rate stability amid global financial uncertainty.

The reserves are equivalent to 5.4 months of imports or 5.3 months of imports plus government external debt payments, well above the international adequacy standard of three months.

Ibrahim noted that this reserve position strengthens Indonesia’s external sector and macroeconomic stability.

“Looking ahead, Bank Indonesia believes external resilience will remain solid, supported by adequate reserves and potential foreign capital inflows. Positive investor perceptions of Indonesia’s economic outlook and attractive investment returns are key factors,” he concluded.

The Jakarta Interbank Spot Dollar Rate (JISDOR) also reflected the rupiah’s appreciation, moving to IDR 17,618 per dollar from the previous IDR 17,653. ***