Indonesia Posts a Trade Deficit of Rp 186 Trillion with China

Indonesia has consistently recorded a trade deficit with China. Data from the Ministry of Trade shows that Indonesia's trade deficit with China in 2016 reached US$14 billion, or approximately Rp 186.4 trillion. This figure represents a 2.4 percent decrease compared to the previous year. Indonesia's trade deficit with China even surged by almost 80 percent in 2014, triggered by a fall in export value accompanied by a rise in import value.

Indonesia's trade value with China in 2016 reached US$47.59 billion, or approximately Rp 632.89 trillion. This is the largest trade value compared to Indonesia's trade with other countries. This comprises Indonesian exports to China of US$16.79 billion and imports valued at US$30.8 billion.

During the January-February 2017 period, Indonesia's trade deficit with China decreased by 34.86 percent to US$1.8 billion from the same period the previous year. This decrease in the deficit was driven by a 47 percent increase in export value to US$3.16 billion, in line with rising prices of Indonesia's main commodities. Meanwhile, import value only grew by 1.04 percent to US$4.96 billion.