The rupiah exchange rate closed 64 points weaker at Rp17,862 per US\ndollar in trading today, Tuesday (18\/8), from the previous close of\nRp17,798 per US dollar.<\/p>\n
For trading tomorrow, economist and currency & commodities\nobserver Ibrahim Assuaibi predicts the rupiah will be volatile but close\nweaker in the range of Rp17,860 to Rp17,920 per US dollar.<\/p>\n
From the domestic side, Ibrahim said the rise in crude oil prices\nabove US$83 per barrel increases the country\u2019s foreign exchange burden\nfor energy imports. High demand for crude oil imports forces businesses\nand the government to make payments denominated in US dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surge in demand for US dollars to purchase crude oil on the\nglobal market strengthens the position of the US currency and pressures\nthe rupiah exchange rate,\u201d he said in a statement received on Tuesday\n(18\/8).<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Bank Indonesia recorded Indonesia\u2019s external debt\nposition at US$453.4 billion, or approximately Rp8,089.1 trillion. The\nposition grew 4.4% year-on-year (yoy).<\/p>\n
The figure increased compared with Indonesia\u2019s external debt position\nin May 2026, which was recorded at US$444.4 billion, or approximately\nRp7,928.5 trillion. External debt developments in the second quarter of\n2026 show that Indonesia\u2019s external debt remains manageable, supported\nby an increase in public external debt and a lower contraction in\nprivate external debt.<\/p>\n
Government external debt in the second quarter of 2026 was recorded\nat US$216.3 billion, or approximately Rp3,860.4 trillion, growing 2.9%\n(yoy). This growth was lower than the growth in the first quarter of\n2026 of 3.8% (yoy).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe development of government debt was mainly influenced by inflows\ninto Government Securities (SBN), reflecting investor confidence in\nIndonesia\u2019s maintained economic prospects,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
In addition, Bank Indonesia began a two-day Board of Governors\nMeeting on 18-19 August 2026. The monetary policy decision will be\nannounced on Wednesday (19\/8). \u201cBI is expected to maintain the BI Rate\nat 5.75% after raising interest rates aggressively by a total of 75\nbasis points throughout April-June 2026,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Besides the interest rate decision, Ibrahim continued, the market\nwill observe BI\u2019s views on rupiah stability, domestic inflation, banking\nliquidity conditions, and credit growth prospects until the end of the\nyear.<\/p>\n
\u201cBI\u2019s stance and guidance will be one of the determinants of the\nrupiah\u2019s next direction amid global uncertainty, after a fairly\naggressive stabilisation phase over the past few months under the\nleadership of Mr Perry Warjiyo as governor of Bank Indonesia,\u201d he\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rupiah-closes-weaker-at-rp17-862-per-us-dollar-today-1787050283", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }