JAKARTA: Continuing the trend of previous months, Indonesia’s trade balance booked a surplus in April on weak imports.
Monthly surplus stood at US$454.4 million in a fourth consecutive month this year, although much less than the $1.13 billion posted in March, Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Friday.
Exports declined by 8.46 percent to $13.08 billion from last year, while imports dropped significantly by 22.31 percent to $12.63 billion.
BPS deputy for distribution and service statistics Sasmito Hadi Wibowo said that Indonesia might maintain the surplus in coming months as shipments of manufactured goods, such as footwear and textiles, may improve on higher domestic demand.