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RI barely holds onto trade surplus in April, exports to US down sharply
Indonesia has recorded its lowest trade surplus since it began a rally five years ago as industries restock goods in anticipation of rising risks from United States import duties.
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A cargo ship full of containers is seen at the port of Oakland in the United States, on Feb. 3, 2025, as trade tensions escalate over US tariffs. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
S
tatistics Indonesia (BPS) official Pudji Ismartini revealed in a press conference on Monday that the country’s trade surplus, or the amount by which exports exceed imports, was only US$158 million in April.
Pudji said the April figure marked “the lowest” surplus since April 2020, when Indonesia registered a trade deficit of $350 million. The archipelago has maintained a monthly trade surplus ever since, with April being the 60th consecutive month.
The latest result marks a steep drop from a surplus of $4.33 billion recorded in the preceding month and $3.1 billion in February.
The BPS data suggest that the narrowing surplus was attributable to a spike in imports rather than weakening exports, given that both have risen.
Exports in April increased to $20.74 billion, up 5.76 percent year-on-year (yoy) from $19.61 billion a year ago. Imports, meanwhile, grew 21.84 percent yoy from $16.9 billion in April 2024 to $20.59 billion for the same month this year.
The April trade report had been eagerly awaited for clues about the impact of US trade policy, specifically a sweeping 10 percent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on almost all imports.
The world’s largest economy subsequently introduced country-specific tariffs in what it called a “reciprocal” measure, with Indonesian goods subject to a 32-percent levy.
