JAKARTA. Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of US$2.44 billion in September 2020, 3.82% higher than the surplus in August.
According to Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Chief Suharyanto, the country's trade balance has been recording successive surpluses since May this year. "Indonesia recorded [trade balance] surpluses in five consecutive months since May," he said at a press conference on Thursday (15/10).
The trade balance surplus in September was supported by US$14.01 worth of export, as well as the import value which was lowered to US$11.57 billion.
Although Mr Suhariyanto said that Indonesia's import rate in September rose 7.71% from August, the overall import performance was still better than in September 2019. "On a year-on-year basis, the import rate dropped 18.9," he said.
Cumulatively from January to September (9M) 2020, Indonesia's trade balance recorded a US$13.51 billion surprlus, significantly higher than the US$2.24 billion deficit in 9M-2019. (KR/MS)