TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Central Statistics Agency (BPS) head Suryamin said that Indonesia’s trade balance recorded a surplus in May 2016, which was triggered by a significant surplus in the non-oil and gas sector.

“The US$375 trade surplus was resulted from a surplus of US$1.083 billion in the non-oil and gas sector, although the oil and gas sector recorded a deficit of US710.7 million,” Suryamin said at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

In terms of trade volume in May 2016, the trade balance volume recorded a surplus of 26,593.8 tons, triggered by a surplus of 26,591.2 tons in the non-oil and gas sector, although the oil and gas sector experienced a deficit of 636.4 tons.

BPS deputy of distribution and service statistics Sasmito Hadi Wibowo said that the surplus in the trade balance was beyond expectation as the BPS previously predicted Indonesia’s trade balance would record a deficit.

Sasmito added that the increase in import volume was relatively higher than the export one. However, since the previous export volume was relatively high, no deficit had been recorded.

Reports said that the export balance in May 2016 stood at US$11.51 billion, which was higher than the import balance in the same month at US$11.14 billion. In the period of January-May 2016, the trade balance recorded a surplus of US$2.70 billion.

DIKO OKTARA