Exports from Indonesia unexpectedly grew by 3.16% year-on-year to a three-month high of USD 23.25 billion in March 2025, beating forecasts of a 3.4% fall, despite easing from a marginally revised 13.86% jump in February. This marked the 12th straight month of export growth, though it was the softest pace since last July as non-oil and gas exports rose by 2.56% to USD 21.80 billion, slowing sharply from a 15.40% surge in February. Sales grew to the U.S. (20.06%), China (9.51%), ASEAN (6.82%), and the EU (21.52%). Among commodities, sales increased mainly for animal/vegetable fats and oils (48.25%), iron and steel (11.84%), and machinery and equipment, mechanics, and parts thereof (19.94%). By contrast, sales of mineral fuels, the largest contributor to non-oil exports, slumped 21.91%. Meanwhile, oil and gas exports surged by 13.05% to USD 1.45 billion, boosted by a jump in oil products (18.03%) and natural gas (13.10%). For Q1 of 2025, exports rose by 6.93% yoy to USD 66.62 billion
Indonesia's imports rose 5.34% yoy to a three-month peak of USD 18.92 billion in March 2025, accelerating from a 2.30% growth in February and marking the strongest increase since December. However, the latest result fell short of market consensus of 6.6%, amid concerns over the impact of rising US tariffs. Non-oil and gas imports grew 7.91% to USD 15.79 billion, faster than the prior 3.47% rise. However, oil and gas imports dropped further (-5.98% vs -3.76%) to USD 3.13 billion, due to a decline in purchases of crude oil (-8.21%) even as oil products edged higher (0.73%). Imports rose from China (38.01%), Japan (15.78%), Taiwan (9.10%), India (6.68%), and the EU (6.02%), notably from Germany (4.84%). In contrast, purchases slipped from the US (-5.95%), South Korea (-28.93%), and Australia (-11.18%). Arrivals from ASEAN countries shrank (-7.59%), mainly from Singapore (-6.68%) and Thailand (-14.37%). During the first three months of 2025, imports added 1.47% to USD 55.70 billion

Source: Trading Economi