Trade Surplus Hits 65-Month Streak in September 2025 as Manufacturing and Commodities Drives 11.4% Exports Jump
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia posts a trade surplus of US$ 4.34 billion in September 2025, maintaining its 65-month streak of positive trade balance since May 2020. The surplus was underpinned by a robust rebound in exports, particularly in non-oil and gas commodities, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
BPS reported that total exports rose 11.41% year-on-year to US$ 24.67 billion in September 2025. Non-oil and gas shipments accounted for US$ 23.68 billion, up 12.79% from a year earlier, while oil and gas exports declined 13.61% to US$ 0.99 billion.
Deputy for Distribution and Service Statistics at BPS, Ismartini Pudji, said the strong performance of non-oil and gas exports was driven by higher demand for key commodities such as precious metals and jewelry (HS 71), which surged 168.57% year-on-year and contributed 5.66% to overall export growth. Exports of iron and steel (HS 72) climbed 23.67%, contributing 2.48%, while vegetable oils and fats (HS 15), mainly palm oil, increased 18% with a 1.7% contribution.
“Exports from the manufacturing sector showed impressive growth, supported by strong international demand for downstream commodities such as palm oil, processed metals, and jewelry,” Ismartini said in a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
Manufacturing industries continued to anchor export performance, contributing US$ 19.9 billion in September, up 20.25% year-on-year. Agricultural exports rose 11.27% to US$ 0.63 billion, while mining exports contracted 18.8% to US$ 3.16 billion amid lower prices and production in mineral sectors.
On a cumulative basis, total exports from January to September 2025 reached US$ 209.8 billion, an 8.14% increase compared with the same period last year. Manufacturing remained the largest contributor, rising 8.14% with a 12.58% share of the total export increase. Key export products included palm oil, non-ferrous base metals, precious jewelry, organic chemicals derived from agriculture, semiconductors, and electronic components.
In contrast, imports grew 7.17% year-on-year to US$ 20.34 billion in September, reflecting a steady recovery in domestic demand for raw materials and capital goods.
This resulted in a September trade surplus of US$ 4.34 billion, bringing the cumulative surplus for January–September 2025 to US$ 33.48 billion. Non-oil and gas trade contributed US$ 47.2 billion to the surplus, offsetting a US$ 13.71 billion deficit in oil and gas trade.
By trading partner, the United States remained Indonesia’s top source of surplus at US$ 13.48 billion, followed by India with US$ 10.45 billion and the Philippines with US$ 6.54 billion. Meanwhile, Indonesia recorded trade deficits with China at US$ 14.32 billion, Australia at US$ 4.01 billion, and Singapore at US$ 3.43 billion.