Import Rise Driven by Consumer Goods

Trade Minister Budi Santoso has stated that consumer goods were the largest contributor to the rise in imports, accounting for 56.67% of the increase, followed by raw materials and auxiliary materials at 35.46%, and capital goods at 6.33% in April 2026. Based on data from the Ministry of Trade, the value of imports in April 2026 was recorded at 25.21 billion US dollars. This value increased by 31.28% compared to March 2026 and grew by 22.49% compared to April 2025. “The increase in imports occurred across all categories of goods usage. This condition indicates an increase in public consumption needs as well as industrial requirements for raw materials and capital goods,” Budi said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. The month-to-month import surge was mainly caused by the growth of oil and gas imports by 45.09% and non-oil and gas imports by 28.55%. Budi stated that this increase in imports occurred across all categories of goods usage. Cumulatively, total imports from January to April 2026 reached 86.51 billion US dollars, an increase of 13.40% compared to January-April 2025. The increase was supported by oil and gas imports of 17.58% and non-oil and gas imports of 12.70%. Meanwhile, viewed from the Broad Economic Categories (BEC), all import components recorded growth during the January-April 2026 period. Imports of capital goods increased the highest by 19.02%, followed by consumer goods at 15.68% and raw or auxiliary materials at 11.67%. “The increase in imports of capital goods was driven by a rise in imports of several main commodities, including computers, aircraft, machines for electroplating and electrolysis processes, temperature processing machines, and electric cars,” Budi said. In terms of commodities, the highest surge in non-oil and gas imports during January-April 2026 occurred in aircraft and parts thereof, which increased significantly by 516.83%. This was followed by salt, sulphur, stone and cement at 84.65%; metal ores, slag and ash at 63.15%; various chemical products at 37.72%; and fruit at 34.75% cumulatively. Based on country of origin, Indonesia’s non-oil and gas imports were still dominated by China, Japan, and Australia with a combined contribution reaching 53.12%. On the other hand, the countries of origin for non-oil and gas imports with the largest growth included Mexico, which rose 282.69%, the Russian Federation at 125.56%, and Argentina at 117.65% cumulatively.