JAKARTA: Indonesias imports in March 2016 rose 11.01 percent to US$11.29 billion from $10.07 billion a month earlier, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said. However, the March 2016 imports fell 10.41 percent from the level in the same month last year, BPS Chief Suryamin said in a press briefing here on Friday.
Non-oil/non-gas imports in March 2016 increased 7.88 percent to $9.77 billion from $9.05 billion the month before. However, they tumbled 5.56 percent from $10.34 billion in March 2015. He said machines and mechanical appliances saw the highest increase among the non-oil/non-gas imports with a value of $95.8 million or 5.98 percent, while vehicles and spare parts recorded the biggest decline with a value of $55.12 billion or 11.12 percent.
Oil/gas imports in March 2016 jumped 36.25 percent to $1.53 billion from $1.12 billion in February. However, they fell 32.54 percent from $2.68 billion in March 2015. “Crude oil imports climbed 91.48 percent month-on-month, oil product imports rose 10.78 percent and gas imports increased 3.57 percent,” he said.
Cumulatively, imports in the first quarter of 2016 stood at $31.94 billion, down 13.05 percent from $36.73 billion in the same period last year. The March 2016 imports comprised oil/gas imports valued at $3.87 billion, down 36.51 percent, and non-oil/non-gas imports worth $28.06 billion, down 8.37 percent.
