JAKARTA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia posted a widening trade balance surplus to 2.93 billion U.S. dollars in May, compared to the previous month's 2.72 billion dollars, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Wednesday.
"This extends the surplus record to 49 consecutive months since May 2020," said BPS Deputy of Production Statistics M. Habibullah in a press conference.
The largest surplus was contributed by countries such as India, the United States, and Japan.
From January to May 2024, the total trade balance surplus was recorded at 13.06 billion dollars, down 3.41 billion dollars compared to the same period last year which reached 16.47 billion dollars.
The surplus was supported by a recorded export value of 22.33 billion dollars, up 13.82 percent month-to-month (mtm) and 2.86 percent year-on-year (yoy).
The increase in export value was supported by non-oil and gas commodities such as iron and steel by 10.50 percent or 2.20 billion dollars, up 1.22 percent mtm and 8.30 percent yoy.
Indonesia's imports in May were recorded at 19.40 billion dollars, up 14.82 percent mtm but down 8.83 percent yoy.
The primary import value was bolstered by three non-oil and gas commodities: mechanical equipment accounted for 17.37 percent, electrical equipment contributed 13.44 percent, and iron and steel made up 5.70 percent. ■
