TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said the country's imports in August reached USD16.4 billion or slipping by 7.97 percent from July.
“However, it is a 24.65 percent increase compared to August 2017,” BPS head Suhariyanto said at his office on Monday.
He added non-oil and gas imports in August amounted to USD13.79 billion, or 14.50 percent higher than that of July and up by 19.97 percent from August 2017.
Read: Govt to Reduce Imports Without Disrupting Growth
"Most imported items of non-oil and gas products in August, compared to July 2018, are in sectors such as milk, margarine, eggs, valued at USD48.6 billion or 94.19 percent. Meanwhile, the largest drop came from the sector of machines and airplane mechanics that contributed USD296.3 million or 11.31 percent,” said Suhariyanto.
He also stated that oil and gas imports in July climbed by 14.50 percent compared to July 2018. This number is higher by 51.43 percent compared to August 2017. Increased imports in the oil and gas sector was owing to higher imports of oil and gas components, including crude oil with USD1.83 million.
MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO