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Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati confirmed that her ministry issued a new regulation (a revision of PMK 188/PMK 04/2010) that raises the threshold for personal items - purchased overseas - that can be taken into Indonesia free of import duties and tax.
Indonesian government officials said all e-commerce products that are imported into Indonesia will become subject to an import tariff in the near future. The Indonesian government is currently studying the issue.
Those Indonesians (as well as expats living in Indonesia) who enjoy visiting places like Singapore for some quick shopping will be happy to learn that the Indonesian government decided to raise the maximum value of private goods - purchased overseas - that can be carried into Indonesia free of import duties and tax.
Indonesia's Statistics Bureau (BPS) said Indonesia recorded a USD $1.72 billion trade surplus in August 2017, exceeding analysts' expectations and significantly higher than the USD $0.3 billion surplus that was recorded in the same month one year earlier. In fact, it was Indonesia's biggest surplus in nearly five years (in November 2012 Indonesia recorded a USD $1.8 billion trade surplus).
Indonesian entrepreneurs urge the central government to sign more bilateral free trade agreements because Indonesia's export products currently miss out on competitiveness as regional counterparts - such as those in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - can enjoy little or zero import duties under such agreements with specific trading partners, while the Indonesian government remains hesitant to be engaged in these deals.
Contrary to expectations Indonesia posted a trade deficit in July 2017. The nation's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Tuesday (15/08) that Southeast Asia's largest economy experienced a USD $271.2 million trade deficit last month, the country's first deficit in 19 months.
Although the nation continued to record a trade surplus, Indonesia's exports and imports unexpectedly contracted in June 2017. Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Monday (17/07) that exports declined 11.82 percent year-on-year (y/y) to USD $11.64 billion, while imports fell 17.21 percent (y/y) to USD $10.01 billion last month. Hence resulting in a USD $1.63 billion trade surplus in June, up from a revised USD $580 million trade surplus in the preceding month.
Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced Indonesia's trade surplus stood at USD $474 million in May 2017, significantly below analysts' estimates and the revised April 2017 trade surplus of USD $1.33 billion. Key reason that explains Indonesia's lower trade surplus is rising imports ahead of the Ramadan (the Islamic fasting month) and Idul Fitri celebrations (the festivities that follow after the end of Ramadan).
Based on the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), released on Monday morning (15/05), Indonesia's export and import performance in April 2017 slightly weakened compared to the performance in the preceding month but remains in much better shape than it was in April one year ago. The nation's April trade surplus is USD $1.24 billion, smaller than the revised USD $1.39 billion surplus in the preceding month but still exceeding analysts' forecasts.
Indonesia reported good trade data on Monday (17/04). Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) announced the nation's exports were worth USD $14.59 billion in March 2017, up 23.55 percent from the same month one year earlier (and the biggest rise since August 2011), on the back of growing oil and gas shipments. Moreover, the pace of Indonesia's export growth in March was nearly two times faster compared to growth recorded in the preceding month as well as the forecast of most analysts.
Latest Columns Import
The Customs Identification Number (NIK) in Indonesia is a personal identity number given by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to users of customs services, such as importers and exporters. This customs number gives customs users the possibility to access or connect with the customs system. The registration of a Customs Identification Number is required in order to perform customs activities. Without such number trading companies are (in most cases) not able to perform import or export activities.
The trade balance of Indonesia improved in 2014. Over the whole year of 2014 Indonesia posted a USD $1.88 billion trade deficit, significantly better than the USD $4.08 billion deficit it recorded a year earlier. Today (02/02), Statistics Indonesia announced that Indonesia posted a USD $0.19 billion trade surplus in the last month of the year after having recorded a USD $0.42 billion trade deficit in the preceding month. The improved performance is mainly due to the country’s growing non-oil & gas surplus and narrowing oil & gas deficit.
An Import Identification Number (API) is required in case a company wishes to import goods into Indonesian territory. Without such number a company is not allowed to perform any import activities. Minister of Trade Regulation number 27/M-DAG/PER/5/2012 regarding Provisions on Importer Identification Number (API) as amended by Minister of Trade Regulation number 59/M-DAG/PER/9/2012 (Trade Regulation) regulates the types of API based on the intended use for the product imported.
Indonesia’s inflation pace accelerated in December 2014, exceeding estimations of analysts and Indonesia’s central bank. December inflation, 2.46 percent (m/m) or 8.36 percent (y/y), accelerated due to the impact of higher subsidized fuel prices (introduced in November) and volatile food prices (fluctuating rice and chili prices at the year-end). Other factors that contributed to high inflation in 2014 were higher electricity tariffs for households and industries, the higher price of 12 kg LPG, and an airfare adjustment.
Indonesia’s inflation reached 2.46 percent month-to-month (m/m) in December 2014 due to the impact of higher subsidized fuel prices implemented on 18 November 2014. On a year-on-year (y/y) basis, Indonesia’s inflation was recorded at 8.36 percent, slightly lower than the result in 2013 (8.38 percent). Inflation has been high in 2013 and 2014 as the Indonesian government raised prices of subsidized fuels in both years in an attempt to relieve fiscal pressures brought about by costly oil imports.
After having recorded a trade deficit for several months, Indonesia finally posted a USD $20 million trade surplus in October 2014, according to data from the country’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released on Monday (01/12). Exports in October amounted to USD $15.35 billion, while imports were recorded at USD $15.33 billion. The improvement in Indonesia’s trade balance was mainly on the back of growth in the country’s non-oil & gas sector exports. This sector saw a surplus of USD $1.13 billion (up from USD $760 million in September).
The current account deficit of Indonesia eased to USD $6.84 billion, or 3.07 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2014 (down from USD $8.69 billion, or 4.07 percent of GDP in the previous quarter). This improvement was mainly supported by a solid surplus in the country’s non-oil & gas sector, partly the result of the US economic recovery as well as resumed copper concentrate exports by Freeport Indonesia and Newmont Nusa Tenggara (after successful mining contract renegotiations).
Bank Indonesia decided to hold the key interest rate (BI rate) at 7.50 percent in October, with the Lending Facility and Deposit Facility rates kept at 7.50 percent and 5.75 percent, respectively. This level is expected to help control inflation at 4.5±1 percent in 2014 and 4.0±1 percent in 2015, as well as to reduce the current account deficit to a more sustainable level. Despite stable domestic conditions, Bank Indonesia sees risks: contagion risk stemming from US monetary tightening and possible higher subsidized fuel prices.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) released a press statement on Wednesday evening (01/10) in which it set out its view on the country’s trade balance and inflation after the latest economic data had been released by Statistics Indonesia (abbreviated BPS) earlier on the day. Based on information of BPS, Indonesia’s September inflation was relatively low at 0.27 percent month-to-month (m/m), while the August trade balance swung back into a deficit at USD $318.1 million.
Governor of the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia), Agus Martowardojo, commented on Indonesia’s troubled current account balance on Tuesday (12/08). Martowardojo said that he expects the balance to improve in 2014. Last year, the current account deficit of Southeast Asia’s largest economy reached 3.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP); a level which is generally regarded as unsustainable. This year, the deficit may ease to 3 percent of GDP. For investors the current account balance is an important matter. Why?
