InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia continues its positive trade performance streak. The country's trade balance for August 2025 recorded a surplus of US$5.49 billion, a sharp increase from the previous month’s US$4.17 billion. Furthermore, the non-oil and gas surplus surged to its highest level since November 2022, reaching US$7.15 billion.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that this achievement extends the consecutive monthly surplus trend to 64 months since May 2020. "The August surplus proves the resilience of Indonesian trade amid global volatility. The non-oil and gas balance, recording US$7.15 billion, is the highest in nearly three years," he said in an official statement written by InfoSAWIT on Sunday (10/5/2025).

Cumulatively, the trade balance surplus for the January–August 2025 period reached US$41.21 billion, up from US$32.69 billion in the same period last year. The largest surpluses continued to be generated from trade with the United States (US$14.09 billion), India (US$9.47 billion), and the Philippines (US$5.81 billion).

August Exports Grow, Non-Oil & Gas Becomes Key Contributor

Total exports in August 2025 were recorded at US$24.96 billion, up 0.87 percent month-on-month (MoM) and growing 5.78 percent compared to August 2024 (YoY). Non-oil and gas exports rose by 6.68 percent (YoY), despite a 10.88 percent decline in oil and gas exports.

The three non-oil and gas commodities with the highest export surge in August were:

• Ores, slag, and ash (HS 26), up 128.61 percent.
• Articles of iron and steel (HS 73), up 52.85 percent.
• Inorganic chemicals (HS 28), up 47.52 percent.

Indonesia’s total exports for the January–August 2025 period reached US$185.13 billion, an increase of 7.72 percent over the same period in 2024. Of this amount, non-oil and gas exports contributed US$176.09 billion, growing by 9.15 percent.

The manufacturing industry still dominated non-oil and gas exports with a 79.92 percent share, followed by mining at 12.73 percent, and agriculture at 2.47 percent. Notably, the agricultural sector recorded the highest growth at 38.25 percent.

The commodities with the largest export jump during the first eight months of the year were:

• Cocoa and its preparations (HS 18), up 86.52 percent.
• Aluminum and its derivative products (HS 76), up 68.86 percent.
• Coffee, tea, and spices (HS 09), up 58.66 percent.

Export Destination Markets Diversify Beyond Key Partners

China, the US, and India remain the top three non-oil and gas export markets for Indonesia, with a total value of US$73.63 billion, equivalent to 41.82 percent of the national non-oil and gas export total.

However, countries registering the highest export growth were Switzerland (181.73 percent), Bangladesh (38.70 percent), Brazil (38.58 percent), Thailand (35.03 percent), and Egypt (33.70 percent). Regionally, exports to West Africa grew 74.31 percent, Central Asia 66.19 percent, and East Africa 47.56 percent.

“This achievement underscores that Indonesia’s export market diversification is widening, not only relying on major partners but also penetrating non-traditional markets,” said Trade Minister Budi. (T2)