Indonesia posts $3.55 billion trade surplus in August

Business Recorder reported that Indonesia posted a surplus in trade of $3.55 billion during August, a result far above the median Reuters poll forecast of about $630 million. According to Statistics Indonesia, exports climbed 6.72% from a year earlier to $26.61 billion, which was weaker than the 4.3% rise the poll had anticipated. Per LSEG calculations, the figure is the widest since September 2025.

Imports grew 19.09% year on year to $23.06 billion, slower than the 31.14% gain the poll had pencilled in. The country has gained from higher prices for several of its leading commodity exports this year, with some of that lift coming from crude oil prices pushed up by the Middle East conflict. As a net buyer of oil, however, it has also faced sharply higher import bills.

Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and a leading global shipper of coal, palm oil and nickel. It also supplies tin, copper, aluminium and coffee in large volumes, so its trade figures are closely watched alongside commodity prices.