- Indonesia’s trade surplus widened to USD 3.55 Bn in Aug-26 from USD 0.12 Bn the month before.
- Stable export growth (1.51% MoM) was driven especially by nickel (93.87% MoM) alongside strong demand from China (12.57% MoM) which could indicate a recovery in China's manufacturing sector.
- Meanwhile, imports contracted (-11.53% MoM) as both O&G and non-O&G imports weakened (-6.37% MoM and -12.52% MoM respectively), even though all product categories still expanded on an annual basis.
- Positive signals for trade surround the recent Trump-Xi meetings despite continued Middle East tension, but the government's modest spending target for next year puts higher stakes in export-import activities.
