Jakarta. The latest data from the statistics bureau BPS recently revealed that a large part of Indonesia’s trade deficit had come from Singapore, the neighbor that Jakarta currently has a diplomatic row with.

The sharp political rhetoric against Singapore and the country’s cuts to its pipeline natural gas supply have strained ties. Amid heightened tension, Indonesia reported that its deficit with Singapore — its leading gasoline supplier — has swollen.

“Singapore is the second-largest contributor to our overall trade deficit, reaching $7.03 billion between January and September 2026,” BPS deputy Ateng Hartono told a press briefing in Jakarta on Monday.

Data showed the trade deficit — which includes oil imports — had doubled from the $3.51 billion shortfall seen a year earlier. As usual, the largest negative trade balance occurred with China, reaching a whopping $21.20 billion in the first 9 months of 2026. Australia was at third place by contributing about $5.78 billion in deficit.

Singapore, however, is missing from the top 3 when it comes to who gives Indonesia’s biggest deficit in non-oil and gas trade. The ones leading the non-oil deficit ranks are as follows: China ($21.99 billion); Australia ($5.43 billion); France ($2.08 billion).

The Trade Ministry database laid out what had triggered the yawning deficits. Indonesia’s full-year oil and gas imports from Singapore rose by just under 38% year-on-year (yoy) to $9.58 billion as of September 2026. This eventually fueled a 49.76% yoy hike in the oil commerce deficit, which jumped to $6.25 billion.

BPS’ announcements took place on the same day as fresh threats to Singapore. 

In a conference, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia — who has repeatedly made sharp remarks about the city-state — urged a stop to the transit of Indonesian commodities to “that one country” in favor of direct shipments to avoid losing the tax revenue.

He told the same forum that Indonesia’s electricity export to Singapore would be unlikely to take place anytime soon to secure domestic supplies, even warning the sovereign fund Danantara against foreign lobbying. 

He later clarified that export opportunities remained open “as long as the price is right”. Bahlil even intends to seek Chinese and Indian alternatives to Singapore gasoline. He also urged Singapore to “not lecture Jakarta” about honoring contracts, saying that the 31 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD) reductions to Singapore-bound pipeline natural gas are still within the contractual limits.

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