JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - Indonesia’s exports reached US$14.59 billion in March, up 15.68 percent on a monthly basis and rose 23.55 percent from the same month last year, the biggest growth since August 2011 according to statistic bureau data. Total imports recorded $13.36 billion in the same month, resulting a trade surplus of $1.23 billion compared to February’s revised surplus of US$1.27 billion.
“This situation is very good because it is the highest export numbers since January 2015. We hope it (exports rise) can continue in the coming months,” said the head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Suhariyanto at the press conference on Monday (Apr 17).
On annual basis, the value of exports in March grew 23.55 percent. The export of goods which grew significantly in March are mineral fuels (32.84 percent), rubber and rubber products (25.30 percent), and crust and metal ores (4,938 percent).
Similarly, the value of imports in the same month also grew 17.65 percent on a monthly basis. While in annual basis, imports in March 2017 also grew 18.80 percent from March 2016. Imports of raw materials, capital goods, and consumer goods rose on a monthly basis respectively by 13.31 percent, 18.80 percent and 58.21 percent.
With a record trade surplus of $1.23 billion, total surplus in January-March 2017 reached US$3.93 billion, higher than the surplus in the same period last year amounted to US$1.64 billion.
On the one hand, Indonesia recorded the trade surplus with India, USA, and Netherlands, while on the other hand, Indonesia recorded trade deficit with China, Australia, and Thailand. (*)