JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The performance of Indonesia\u2019s manufacturing\nsector continues to show resilience amid global pressures.<\/p>\n
Although slowing, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index (PMI)\nfor March 2026 remains in expansion territory at 50.1.<\/p>\n
This figure is down from February\u2019s 53.8, in line with weakening new\norders and exports, as well as rising input costs due to higher energy\nprices and global supply chain disruptions.<\/p>\n
Director General of Economic and Fiscal Strategy at the Ministry of\nFinance, Febrio Kacaribu, emphasised that despite various pressures, the\nfundamentals of the national manufacturing industry remain intact.<\/p>\n
He explained that pressures on the manufacturing sector are\ninfluenced by escalating global geopolitics, rising energy prices, and\ninternational supply chain disruptions.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, industrial activity continues to hold in expansion\nterritory.<\/p>\n
Several countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, India, and the United\nStates still record manufacturing PMIs in expansion territory, providing\npositive signals for global demand.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, domestically, domestic demand remains the main pillar of\nsupport.<\/p>\n
This is reflected in the Real Sales Index (IPR) for February 2026,\nwhich grew 6.9 percent year-on-year, driven by Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr\nmomentum.<\/p>\n
Real sector activity also shows positive trends, including car sales\ngrowing 12.2 percent, cement sales increasing 5.3 percent, and\nelectricity consumption in the business and industrial sectors remaining\nexpansive.<\/p>\n
Public optimism is also maintained, as seen from the Consumer\nConfidence Index (IKK) at 125.2 in February 2026, reflecting positive\nperceptions of the current and future economic conditions.<\/p>\n
On the price side, inflation remains controlled despite increased\ndemand during Ramadan.<\/p>\n
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for March 2026 was recorded\nat 3.5 percent year-on-year, down from February\u2019s 4.8 percent.<\/p>\n
The decline in inflation was mainly influenced by easing pressures on\ngovernment-regulated price components and volatile food prices.<\/p>\n
The external sector\u2019s performance also remains solid. Indonesia\u2019s\ntrade balance has recorded a surplus for 70 consecutive months, with a\nFebruary 2026 surplus of $1.27 billion.<\/p>\n
Cumulatively, Febrio stated, the January\u2013February 2026 trade surplus\nreached $2.23 billion, with positive export growth driven by flagship\ncommodities such as iron and steel, vegetable oils, and mineral\nfuels.<\/p>\n
Febrio stated that the government will continue to strengthen the\npolicy mix to maintain economic stability, including through inflation\ncontrol, investment strengthening, and enhancement of national energy\nresilience.<\/p>\n
These steps are deemed important to maintain growth momentum amid\nincreasingly complex global dynamics.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/purbayas-deputy-indonesias-manufacturing-sector-remains-expansive-1775656293", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }