Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s trade surplus showed a downward trend in the past few months, falling to US$1.53 billion in April from US$1.81 billion in March and from US$2.4 billion in February, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

"In April, exports reached US$16.52 billion and imports stood at US$14.89 billion, resulting in a surplus of US$1.53 billion. But the surplus shows a downward trend compared with the previous months," BPS Deputy Chief for Statistics Distribution and Services Djamal said here on Wednesday.

According to BPS data, Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$1.81 billion in March, down from US$2.4 billion in February.

Djamal said the decline in April 2011`s trade surplus mainly resulted from a deficit in oil and gas trade. In April oil/gas exports stood at US$3.59 billion and oil/gas imports reached US$3.89 billion, leading to a deficit of US$0.30 billion.

Yet non-oil/non-gas trade recorded a surplus of US$1.94 billion in that month with exports reaching US$12.93 billion and imports US$10.99 billion, he said.

He said Indonesia in April saw a deficit of US$602 million in its trade with China, US$553 million with Thailand, and US$166 million with Australia.

"Our trade with South Korea which usually favors us also recorded a deficit of US$13 million in April," he said.

Indonesia`s exports to South Korea were valued at US$576 million while its imports from the East Asian country reached US$589 million in April, he said.
(T.M035/S012/HAJM/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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