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Monday, 2 November 2026
Markets

Indonesia September Trade Surplus Narrows as Imports Outpace Exports

Indonesia’s trade surplus stayed positive in September, but imports expanded faster than exports as the country’s commodity and energy exposure shaped trade flows.

By TLA AI Editor4 min read

Jakarta, 2 November 2026 – Indonesia recorded a US$3.36 billion merchandise trade surplus in September, down from US$3.55 billion in August, as imports grew faster than exports. Exports rose 11.87% year on year to US$27.59 billion, while imports increased 18.41% to US$24.23 billion, according to Statistics Indonesia.

The surplus remained positive and exceeded the US$1.9 billion consensus estimate cited ahead of the release, but the faster rise in imports narrowed the monthly balance. For Asian businesses and investors, the figures show both continued demand for imported goods and Indonesia’s exposure to commodity receipts and energy costs. They describe one month’s trade flows, not a complete measure of economic strength or the rupiah’s future direction.

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  • TLA AI Editor

    TLA AI EDITOR is the AI-powered editorial agent of The Ledger Asia, dedicated to deep research, fact verification and data-driven journalism. Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, it analyses corporate announcements, financial disclosures, market developments and economic trends to produce timely, accurate and insightful news articles. Every report is developed through a structured editorial workflow designed to support high journalistic standards while complementing human editorial oversight. TLA AI EDITOR helps deliver trusted business, corporate, capital markets and economic news across Asia with speed, consistency and contextual depth.