Indonesia's trade surplus widens to around US$900m in June

[JAKARTA] Indonesia's trade surplus widened in June, driven by strong exports of electronics, auto parts and rubber products, the statistics bureau said on Friday.

The bureau said South-east Asia's largest economy recorded a trade surplus of around US$900 million last month, up from the median forecast in a Reuters poll for a US$300 million surplus and May's revised surplus of US$380 million.

Imports fell by 7.41 per cent from a year earlier in June to US$12.02 billion, versus a forecast for a 10.10 per cent contraction.

Exports fell by 4.42 per cent annually in June to US$12.92 billion. The poll had expected a 12.40 per cent fall.

Indonesia has seen its exports and imports contract for 21 months up to June as low commodity prices hurt everything from overseas shipments and government revenue to people's purchasing power.

REUTERS