Indonesia Records Trade Deficit with China, Large Surplus with the United States

Indonesia recorded another trade surplus in February 2026, amounting to US$1.27 billion. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that this surplus was underpinned by exports soaring to US$22.17 billion and imports of US$20.89 billion. Consequently, the surplus has persisted for 70 months.

Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, Ateng Hartono, explained that this trade balance surplus was supported by surpluses in Indonesia’s trade with three countries: the United States, India, and the Philippines.

With the United States, Indonesia’s trade balance for January-February 2026 was recorded at US$3.53 billion, higher than the US$2.63 billion for the same period the previous year. With India, it was US$2.29 billion, up from US$2.01 billion in January-February 2025. Meanwhile, with the Philippines, Indonesia had a surplus of US$1.54 billion, an increase from US$1.48 billion in the corresponding period last year.

“The largest surplus contributor is the US at US$3.53 billion. The second is India at US$2.29 billion, and the third is the Philippines at US$1.54 billion,” said Ateng during a press conference at BPS headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

Not only with those three countries, Indonesia also recorded a trade surplus with Southeast Asian countries or ASEAN amounting to US$1.56 billion and with European Union countries at US$520 million.

In contrast, with China, Indonesia recorded a fairly deep deficit, reaching US$5.23 billion, deeper compared to January-February 2025.

Additionally, the deepest deficits were also recorded with Australia at US$1.58 billion and Singapore at US$800 million. “Meanwhile, the deepest deficit contributors are first China, second Australia, and Singapore,” he stated.