Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas imports from Malaysia rose significantly by 46.99 percent to US$578.4 million in October 2011 from US$393.5 million the month before, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

"The significant increase was mainly because a cellular phone operator imported large quantities of automatic digital data processing machines," BPS Deputy Head for Distribution and Service Statistics Djamal said here on Thursday.

BPS noted that the import of automatic digital data processing machines jumped to US$55.16 million in October 2011 from US$2.76 million in September 2011 or from US$2.17 million in October 2010.

The agency said Indonesia`s import of machines and mechanical appliances from the neighboring country also climbed by up to 150 percent to US$138.20 million in October 2011 from US$55.19 million in September 2011.

Data from the Trade Ministry show in the first eight months of 2011 Indonesia`s imports from Malaysia were valued at US$6.52 billion, while its exports to the latter reached US$7.38 billion.

Indonesia suffered a deficit in its trade with Malaysia in 2007 and 2008. Since 2009, Indonesia had enjoyed a surplus in its trade with Malaysia.

Indonesia recorded a surplus of US$1.2 billion in its trade with Malaysia in 2009. However, the figure fell to US$713.61 million in 2010.

In the January-August 2011 period, Indonesia saw a surplus of US$856.45 million in its trade with Malaysia.
(T.M035/S012/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011