"The world`s economic slowdown still continues that demand is weak resulting in a decline in our exports and imports," Darmin said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chief Economics Minister Darmin Nasution said the countrys trade balance has not recovered as expected amid ailing global economy.
"The worlds economic slowdown still continues that demand is weak resulting in a decline in our exports and imports," Darmin said here on Wednesday.
Amid the global slump Indonesia could not do much to improve its performance in international trade, he said.
"Dont blame us for the weak export and import performance as we are also victims of the prevailing condition in the world," he said.
Therefore, he said he did not see the Mays trade surplus of US$375.6 million as something encouraging.
The surplus was a result of imports shrinking faster than exports, he said.
The Central Bureau of Statistics recorded a surplus of US$375.6 million in the countrys international trade in May, 2016 with exports valued at 11.51 billion as against imports of US$11.14 billion.
Cumulatively, the countrys trade balance in the first five months of the year had a surplus of US$2.7 billion with exports valued at US$56.59 billion and imports at US$53.89 billion. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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