Jakarta. Indonesia’s trade surplus widened sharply to $3.32 billion in March 2026, driven by a strong non-oil and gas balance, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed on Monday.

Exports reached $22.53 billion in March, while imports stood at $19.21 billion, resulting in a significantly higher surplus compared to $1.27 billion in February.

“Indonesia’s trade balance recorded a $3.32 billion surplus in March 2026. The country has now maintained a trade surplus for 71 consecutive months since May 2020,” said BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics Ateng Hartono during a press briefing.

Ateng added that the March surplus was primarily supported by the non-oil and gas sector, which posted a $5.21 billion surplus. Key contributors included animal or vegetable fats and oils, mineral fuels, as well as iron and steel.

Meanwhile, the oil and gas trade balance recorded a deficit of $1.89 billion.

“The deficit in the oil and gas sector mainly came from crude oil, refined petroleum products, and gas,” Ateng said.

Cumulatively, Indonesia’s trade balance posted a $5.55 billion surplus in the January–March 2026 period. This was underpinned by a $10.63 billion surplus in non-oil and gas commodities, which offset a $5.68 billion deficit in the oil and gas sector.

By trading partners, the largest contributors to Indonesia’s overall surplus were the United States ($4.43 billion), India ($3.29 billion), and the Philippines ($2.09 billion).

For non-oil and gas trade alone, the top surplus contributors were the United States ($5.06 billion), India ($3.36 billion), and the Philippines ($2.05 billion).

On the deficit side, Indonesia recorded the largest overall trade gaps with China ($5.18 billion), Australia ($2.5 billion), and Singapore ($1.9 billion).

“For non-oil and gas trade, the biggest deficit contributors were China at $5.52 billion, Australia at $2.38 billion, and Singapore at $630 million,” Ateng added.

Top non-oil and gas commodities driving the surplus in the first quarter included animal or vegetable fats and oils ($8.68 billion), mineral fuels ($6.22 billion), iron and steel ($4.29 billion), nickel and related products ($3.24 billion), and footwear ($1.49 billion).

Meanwhile, the largest non-oil and gas deficits came from mechanical machinery and equipment ($7.47 billion), electrical machinery ($3.61 billion), plastics and plastic products ($1.9 billion), cereals ($1.04 billion), and optical, photographic, and medical instruments ($850 million).