August Trade Surplus Surges, Showing Indonesia’s External Resilience

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 3.55 billion in August 2026, surging from the USD 0.12 billion surplus recorded in July.

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso said the sharp increase in the trade surplus showed that Indonesia’s external sector remained resilient amid global economic dynamics. The surplus was mainly supported by the non-oil and gas sector, which recorded a surplus of USD 6.09 billion, despite a USD 2.54 billion deficit in the oil and gas sector.

“The surge in the trade surplus in August 2026 proves that Indonesia’s external sector resilience remains strong. The trade surplus was supported by the performance of key commodities such as animal or vegetable fats and oils, mineral fuels, as well as iron and steel. In addition, trade performance with major trading partners such as the United States, India, and the Philippines also helped push our trade balance into surplus,” he said, as quoted from an official statement issued on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Budi explained that the three main commodities contributing to the non-oil and gas surplus in August were animal or vegetable fats and oils at USD 3.95 billion, mineral fuels at USD 2.45 billion, and iron and steel at USD 1.78 billion. In terms of trading partners, the United States was the largest contributor to the surplus at USD 2.41 billion, followed by India at USD 1.19 billion and Malaysia at USD 0.83 billion.

With this achievement, Indonesia’s trade surplus from January to August 2026 reached USD 7.25 billion. The figure comprised a USD 28.54 billion non-oil and gas surplus and a USD 21.29 billion oil and gas deficit.

On the export side, Indonesia’s exports reached USD 26.61 billion in August 2026, up 1.51 percent from July and 6.72 percent from August 2025. The increase was partly driven by exports of manufactured products, which grew 2.46 percent month-on-month.

“Indonesia’s exports of USD 26.61 billion in August 2026 demonstrate the resilience of our foreign trade. Amid global economic dynamics, Indonesian export products remain competitive and continue to show a positive growth trend,” Trade Minister Budi Santoso said.

From January to August 2026, Indonesia’s total exports reached USD 193.64 billion, growing 4.74 percent compared with the same period last year. Non-oil and gas exports remained the main driver, growing 5.48 percent to USD 185.63 billion.

Budi emphasized that the manufacturing sector had become the main engine of national export growth. Its exports reached USD 159.55 billion, accounting for around 82.40 percent of total exports, with cumulative growth of 7.87 percent.

“The success of industrial downstreaming has now proven to be the main support and driving force behind national export growth. With a contribution of 82.40 percent of the export share and export value reaching USD 159.55 billion in January–August 2026, the manufacturing sector demonstrates that Indonesian-made manufactured products are becoming increasingly strong, competitive, and reliable in international markets,” Trade Minister Budi Santoso said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s imports stood at USD 23.06 billion in August 2026. The figure fell 11.63 percent from July, but still grew 19.09 percent compared with August 2025.

Cumulatively, imports from January to August 2026 reached USD 186.39 billion, growing 19.84 percent. The increase was mainly supported by imports of raw materials and auxiliary materials, which rose 20.67 percent, capital goods, which increased 18.82 percent, and consumer goods, which grew 15.48 percent.