Jakarta. Indonesia announced Monday that it had extended its surplus streak for the 63rd month following a $4.17 billion positive trade balance in July.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia’s non-oil and gas segment had recorded a $5.75 billion surplus that month. Energy importer Indonesia posted a $1.58 billion deficit in July’s non-oil and gas trade. 

The statistics bureau reported that iron and steel, alongside crude palm oil and coal, continued to largely drive Indonesia’s exports. The resource-rich country has been enjoying surpluses since May 2020 and is now pursuing new trade agreements to boost shipments.

“Our overall trade surplus reached $23.65 billion between January and July, up by $7.40 billion from the same period in 2024,” Pudji Ismartini, a deputy at BPS, told a virtual press conference.

Trade with the United States remained the most advantageous as Indonesia’s overall surplus totaled $10.49 billion in the first seven months of 2025. The latest report did not take into account recent US tariff hikes on Indonesian goods. The US had only begun charging a 19 percent import tax on Indonesian goods starting August 7, but a 10 percent baseline tariff had already kicked in since early April.

“Electrical machinery and equipment were what had kept our trade balance with the US positive,” Pudji said as data showed such products made up $2.64 billion worth of surplus.

Indonesia is struggling to shrink its trade imbalance with China. The gap even widened from $6.91 billion (January-July 2024) to at least $12.07 billion the following year. In non-oil and gas commerce, the deficit with the Asian superpower totaled $13.21 billion as of July 2025. 

BPS revealed that vehicles and autoparts had added about $2.71 billion to Jakarta’s non-oil and gas deficit with Beijing. Some Chinese brands have already shipped their cars in completely built-up forms -- in other words, their parts are already put together before shipment. According to local media reports quoting automotive association Gaikindo’s data, the local arm of the Shenzhen-based automaker BYD made up the lion’s share of Indonesia’s fully assembled car imports in July.

BPS’ latest announcement became a breath of fresh air amidst waves of protests striking Indonesia’s major cities, including Jakarta. These nationwide rallies centered on public dissatisfaction after lawmakers had their financial perks dramatically raised. The tragic death of an online motorcycle taxi driver by a police tactical vehicle later sparked further anger. Senior minister Airlangga Hartarto said that the Indonesian economy would remain robust despite the protests.

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