From Steel to Nickel, Indonesia's Exports to China Reach US$5.27 Billion in January 2026

Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik/BPS) reported that Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$0.95 billion in January 2026, marking the 69th consecutive monthly surplus since May 2021.

Ateng Hartono, Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, stated that the three primary destinations for Indonesia’s non-petroleum exports are China, the United States, and India. “The contribution of these three countries to Indonesia’s export value reached 43.77 per cent in January 2026,” Ateng said during a press teleconference on Monday, 2 March 2026.

He detailed that among the three countries, China remained the primary market with a value of US$5.27 billion (24.80 per cent). The second position was held by the United States at US$2.51 billion (11.82 per cent), followed by India at US$1.52 billion (7.15 per cent).

Ateng explained that non-petroleum exports to China were dominated by iron and steel, nickel and nickel products, and mineral fuels. Meanwhile, exports to the United States were largely comprised of machinery and electrical equipment and their components, footwear, and clothing and accessories (knitted products).

Regarding imports, Ateng reported that Indonesia’s import value in January 2026 reached US$21.20 billion, increasing 18.21 per cent year-on-year from January 2025. The primary contributor remained the non-petroleum sector with import values of US$18.04 billion, up 16.71 per cent compared to January 2025. “Petroleum sector imports increased by 27.52 per cent to US$3.17 billion in January 2026,” Ateng stated.

By usage category, the increase in imports in January 2026 occurred across raw materials and auxiliary goods, capital goods, and consumer goods. Raw materials and auxiliary goods recorded import values of US$14.88 billion, the primary driver of import growth in January 2026, rising 14.67 per cent compared to January 2025. Capital goods imports reached US$4.49 billion, up 35.23 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year.

“Non-petroleum trade surplus in January 2026 was primarily supported by five main commodities: animal and vegetable fats and oils at US$3.10 billion, mineral fuels at US$2.16 billion, iron and steel at US$1.51 billion, nickel and nickel products at US$1.03 billion, and footwear at US$0.49 billion,” he said.