Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of USD 3.36 billion in September 2026, supported by non-oil and gas exports, while manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace in 31 months in October.
Indonesia's trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 3.36 billion in September 2026, compared with USD 3.55 billion in August, according to data released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) on 2 November 2026. The surplus was supported by non-oil and gas exports, although import growth continued to outpace export growth.
Exports reached USD 27.59 billion in September, increasing by 11.87% compared with the same month last year. Meanwhile, imports rose by 18.41% year on year to USD 24.23 billion, reflecting higher demand for imported goods and energy products.
Non-oil and gas exports accounted for USD 26.64 billion, increasing by 12.39% year on year. Major contributors included animal and vegetable fats and oils, copper products, and electrical machinery and equipment.
The non-oil and gas trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 5.67 billion, while the oil and gas sector registered a deficit of approximately USD 2.31 billion, primarily due to imports of petroleum products and crude oil.
From January to September 2026, Indonesia accumulated a trade surplus of USD 10.61 billion, with total exports reaching USD 221.23 billion and imports amounting to USD 210.63 billion. The cumulative surplus was lower than the USD 33.54 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.
In a separate development, Indonesia's manufacturing sector recorded stronger expansion in October. The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased to 54.0 from 52.4 in September, marking its highest reading since March 2024.
The October PMI remained above the 50-point threshold separating expansion from contraction, supported by improvements in domestic demand and export orders.
According to S&P Global, new orders increased at their fastest pace since October 2021, while new export orders recorded their strongest growth since the survey began in April 2011. Manufacturing output also expanded at its fastest rate since March 2024. However, employment growth remained modest despite the improvement in production activity.
Manufacturers also reported higher input costs, particularly for raw materials and fuel, alongside exchange rate pressures, causing selling prices to increase during the month.
