Wider Trade Surplus Strengthens External Resilience: BI

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported a trade surplus for Indonesia in August 2026. Bank Indonesia (BI) assessed that this increase in the trade surplus is positive for further bolstering the external resilience of the Indonesian economy.

BI spokesperson Ramdan Denny Prakoso said that the central bank is committed to continuously strengthening policy coordination with the government and relevant institutions.

“This measure aims to strengthen external resilience further and support sustainable national economic growth,” Denny said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as quoted on BI’s official website.

According to BPS data, Indonesia’s trade balance in August recorded a surplus of USD 3.55 billion. This figure is higher than the July surplus, which stood at USD 0.12 billion.

The trade balance surplus in August stemmed from an increase in the non-oil and gas trade surplus and a decrease in the oil and gas trade deficit.

The non-oil and gas trade balance in August 2026 recorded a surplus of USD 6.09 billion, higher than the previous month’s surplus of USD 3.10 billion. This increase was in line with a rise in non-oil and gas exports and a decline in non-oil and gas imports.

Non-oil and gas exports rose to USD 25.62 billion. This increase was primarily driven by exports of natural resource-based commodities, such as nickel and its derivatives, animal and vegetable fats and oils, precious metals and jewelry/gemstones, as well as manufactured goods, including various chemical products.

By destination country, China, the United States, and India remained the main contributors to Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports.

Meanwhile, the oil and gas trade deficit decreased to USD 2.54 billion in August 2026 from USD 2.98 billion in the previous month. This decline was in line with a decrease in oil and gas imports and an increase in oil and gas exports.

With these developments, Indonesia’s trade balance for January–August 2026 recorded a surplus of USD 7.25 billion. ***