Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 09:57 AM

Indonesia aims for trade positive trajectory following July surplus

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Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Budi Santoso expressed optimism that Indonesia’s trade balance will continue to record a surplus following a return to positive territory in July 2026.

Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Budi highlighted the US$0.12 billion trade surplus achieved in July as a crucial rebound after the nation experienced back-to-back monthly deficits in May and June.

"Our hope is that it will continue to be a surplus. We want this surplus to last beyond the end of the year,” the minister stated.

Statistics Indonesia reported that July exports reached US$26.22 billion, a 6.05 percent increase year-on-year (yoy), while imports stood at US$26.09 billion, up 27.02 percent yoy.

For the January–July 2026 period, Indonesia’s cumulative goods trade surplus reached US$3.70 billion. Total exports during the seven-month period rose 4.43 percent yoy to US$167.03 billion, up from US$159.95 billion in the same period last year.

Budi attributed previous months' pressure on the trade balance to volatile energy markets, specifically a sharp rise in global crude prices during March and April, when oil briefly breached the US$100 per barrel mark.

High domestic energy demand subsequently widened Indonesia's oil and gas deficit.

"Our non-oil and gas surplus continues. We are experiencing an oil and gas deficit, but the non-oil and gas surplus remains strong," Budi noted.

By sector, manufacturing dominated cumulative exports from January to July 2026, contributing US$137.26 billion. Mining and other sectors generated US$19.60 billion, while agriculture, forestry and fisheries accounted for US$3.15 billion.

Meanwhile, cumulative imports reached US$163.33 billion, up 19.94 percent yoy. Imports were led by raw materials and auxiliary goods at US$116.70 billion, followed by capital goods at US$32.46 billion and consumer goods at US$14.16 billion.

Budi emphasized that the government will continue to aggressively promote non-oil and gas exports to maintain a sustainable trade surplus rather than depending solely on global energy price fluctuations.

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