Indonesian exports surge more than expected in November

[JAKARTA] Indonesia's exports in November accelerated at their fastest annual pace since September 2011, far better than expected, the statistics bureau said on Thursday.

Exports surged 21.34 per cent from a year earlier to US$13.50 billion in November. The shipment value in November was the highest in 17 months.

A Reuters poll had forecast annual export growth of 10 per cent.

"That is a spectacular increase. That gives us a picture of an improvement in global trade," said Sasmito Hadi Wibowo, deputy chief of the statistics bureau.

Imports were US$12.66 billion in November, up 9.88 per cent from a year ago. The poll had forecast 0.10 per cent growth.

The country had a US$838 million trade surplus in November, smaller than the revised US$1.24 billion in October, but close to the US$820 million analysts expected in the poll.

REUTERS