BPS: December Trade Balance Deficit at US$1.1bn
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15 January 2019 13:55 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that the trade balance as per December 18, 2018, was at a deficit of US$1.1 billion. The figure reflects significant decline from the previous month's deficit of US$2.05 billion.
"There is a deficit, but it declined. The deficit in December was mostly due to oil-gas and nonoil-gas deficits," BPS chief Suhariyanto said in Jakarta Tuesday, when announcing the data release.
In November, the deficit was mainly caused by sluggish exports. Exports value amounted to US$14.83 billion, below the imports value of US$16.8 billion.
In December, Suhariyanto said, exports value reached US$14.18 billion, while imports stood at US$15.28 billion.
With the announcement of December's trade balance, the overall deficit in 2018 amounted to US$8.57 billion.
"The government now has a homework to boost exports—despite the many challenges from a no-so-bright outlook for the global economic growth, he said.
DIAS PRASONGKO