Indonesia exports, imports only marginally contract in August

[JAKARTA] Indonesia's exports and imports declined on a yearly basis for the 23rd month in August, the statistics bureau said on Thursday, but at a far slower pace than forecast.

The bureau said Indonesia exported US$12.63 billion worth of goods in August, down 0.74 per cent from a year ago. A Reuters poll's median forecast was for an 8.80 per cent decline.

August imports fell 0.49 per cent to US$12.34 billion from a year ago, versus the poll's 10.55 per cent contraction.

That brought the August trade surplus to US$293.6 million, the bureau said. The Reuters poll had expected a US$450 million trade surplus in August. The country posted a revised US$510 million surplus for July.

Every month this year, Indonesia has had a trade surplus.

REUTERS