State Budget Deficit Under Control at 0.70% of GDP, Purbaya: Tax and Excise Improvements

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has stated that the State Budget (APBN) deficit remained under control at the end of May 2026. The deficit edged up to Rp180.4 trillion, or 0.70 per cent of GDP, slightly higher than the Rp164.4 trillion, or 0.64 per cent of GDP, recorded at the end of April 2026. Nevertheless, Purbaya noted that if calculated on an average basis, the APBN deficit by the end of 2026 could reach 1.8 per cent of GDP. “So if we calculate it like they do abroad. If I use the same method, it would be around 1.8 per cent of GDP (the APBN deficit in 2026). So from that perspective, our state budget is very safe,” Purbaya said. On the other hand, the primary balance recorded a surplus of Rp58.6 trillion. Purbaya said this surplus in the primary balance indicates that the government’s budget is moving sustainably. “This means our budget is now sustainable compared to previous months,” he said. According to Purbaya, the budget deficit could be maintained in line with the management of tax and excise revenue. “So from that perspective, our state budget is very safe. But what is clear is we can control it because there has been a significant improvement in tax and excise,” he explained.