VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The April 2019 trade balance is again in deficit. The April 2019 export and import balance showed a fairly high deficit of USD 2.5 billion, compared to last month which experienced a surplus of USD 0.7 billion. "The trade balance deficit in April 2019 was due to the weakening of exports due to a decline in global demand," said Head of the Trade Assessment and Development Agency, Kasan. Furthermore, Kasan explained, the deficit in April was also due to an increase in the oil and gas trade balance deficit from USD 0.4 billion last month to USD 1.5 billion in April 2019. Meanwhile, the non-oil and gas trade balance also declined, from a surplus of USD 1.1 billion to USD 1.0 billion. "Trade partner countries such as the United States, India, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Malaysia accounted for the largest non-oil and gas trade surplus during April 2019, totaling USD 2.0 billion. Meanwhile, China, Thailand, Japan, Australia, and South Korea contributed the largest non-oil and gas trade deficit which reached a total of USD 3.0 billion, "explained Kasan. Cumulatively, the trade balance for the January-April 2019 period still has a deficit of USD 2.6 billion. This is due to the large oil and gas trade balance deficit which reached USD 2.8 billion, while the non-oil and gas trade account only contributed a surplus of USD 0.2 billion.

Gobal Conditions Press April 2019 Export Performance April 2019 export performance was recorded at 12.6 billion or 13.1 percent compared to the month's exports same in 2018 (YoY). The weakening of exports was due to a decline in oil and gas exports by 37.1 percent and a decline in non-oil and gas exports by 11.0 percent. "Cumulatively, exports from January to April 2019 amounted to USD 53.2 billion, decreasing by 9,4 percent compared to January-April 2018," continued Kasan. In detail, exports in April 2019 weakened in all sectors. Last year's export of agricultural sector rose 7.4 percent this year down 15.9 percent (YoY). Industry sector exports last year rose 8.1 percent, while this year it fell 11.8 percent. Exports of the mining sector rose 12.7 percent last year, while the year is 6.5 percent. The oil and gas sector exports last year rose 324.1 percent, while this year it dropped 37.1 percent.

Cumulatively from January to April 2019, exports of all sectors also experienced weakening. Agriculture sector exports fell 3.3 percent (YoY) and last year also fell 5.2 percent. Industrial sector exports fell 7.8 percent, while last year rose 5.4 percent. The mining sector was down 12.3 percent, while last year it rose 33.4 percent. Exports of the oil and gas sector fell by 18.2 percent, while last year it rose 2.5 percent. In addition, the decline in non-oil and gas exports during the January-April2019 period was also triggered by weakening exports to the top ten markets, except the Philippines and Vietnam which rose 2.9 percent. "This shows the condition of weakening market demand for the main destination countries of Indonesian exports," explained Kasan. April 2019 imports decreased compared to April 2018. April 2019 imports were recorded at USD 15.1 billion, up 12.2 percent compared to imports in March 201 (MoM), but experienced a 6.6 percent decrease in April 2018 (YoY).

The decline in imports in April last year was triggered by the decline in non-oil and gas imports by 7.0 percent and oil and gas imports which fell by 4.0 percent. Cumulatively, total imports during January-April 2019 reached USD 55.8 billion, or decreased by 7.2 compared to the same period of the year then that reached USD 60.1 billion. The decline in imports from January to April 2019 was triggered by a decline in the demand for imported oil and gas which was quite significant, which amounted to 22.8 percent, and non-oil and gas imports which also declined by 4.5 percent. goods. Imports of consumer goods fell by 11.9 percent, imports of raw / auxiliary materials fell 7.1 percent, and imports of capital goods fell 5.4 percent. Goods whose imports experienced a significant decline included fuel and lubricants (-33.4 percent), automotive parts and equipment (-15.8 percent), and capital goods spare parts and equipment (-8.8 percent). (kemendag)