Based on month-to-month trajectory, Indonesia’s trade balance moved from a surplus of USD 0.67 billion in March 2014 into a deficit of USD 1.96 billion in April 2014. The decline was due to a combination of factors that included contraction of exports by USD 0.9 billion and an increase in imports of USD 1.73 billion compared with the level in the previous month.  The total value of exports declined because of a contraction in both oil and gas as well as non-oil and gas exports.  Meanwhile, total value of imports increased, driven largely by imports of non-oil and gas commodities.  In general, Indonesia’strade balance posted a deficit of USD 0.89 billion during January-April 2014 period. That said, the deficit posted during January-April 2014 period, is smaller than USD 1.94 billion recorded during the same period in 2013. read more

In January 2014, the trade account fell back into deficit after three consecutive months of surplus (October – December 2013). During 2013, Indonesia balance of trade showed a deficit of USD 4.06 Billion, which constituted a deterioration from a trade deficit of USD 1.66 Billion in 2012. Rising trade deficit in Indonesia in 2013, is largely attributable to the fact that the surplus on trade balance of non oil and gas was smaller than the deficit on trade balance of non oil and gas. On a month-to-month basis, balance of trade registered a decline of 128% from a surplus of USD 1.53 Billion in December 2013 to a deficit of USD 0.43 Billion in January 2014. The condition was by and large caused by a decline in Indonesian exports that was larger than a decline of imports, 14%, and 3%, respectively. read more