Indonesia Posts Trade Deficit in December, Surplus in 2015
Indonesia posted a trade deficit of USD $230 million in December 2015 as imports (USD $12.12 billion) exceeded exports (USD $11.89 billion), the second monthly trade deficit in 2015. Overall, the country's trade balance shows a surplus of USD $7.51 billion in 2015, significantly improving from the USD $2.2 billion trade deficit in the preceding year. But despite posting a good trade surplus in full-year 2015, a closer look at the data still reveals weak global and domestic conditions.
Although on a monthly basis Indonesia's exports and imports rose in December 2015, figures are still down significantly from a year ago. Indonesia's imports in full-year 2015 plunged 19.9 percent (y/y) to USD $142,74 billion, while exports declined 14.6 percent to USD $150.25 billion over the same period. Falling exports and imports are the result of sluggish global demand (signalling sluggish economic growth) as well as weak domestic demand in Indonesia. Moreover, persistently weak commodity prices add pressure on Indonesia's export value.
Trade Balance Indonesia:
