Suhariyanto, head of the BPS, attributed the deficit to the slowdown in China's economic growth that affected demand for raw materials and some Indonesian exports to China.
The rate of non-oil and gas products in Indonesia’s exports to China was reduced to 13.52 percent ( US$1.71 billion) in the first month of 2019, compared to 14.51 percent ( $1.92 billion) posted in January last year.
Besides, Indonesia’s oil export to China decreased by 4.36 percent to US$184.6 million in the reviewed month.
Also in January, Indonesia’s trade balances with Thailand and Australia also posted a deficit at US$261 million and US$208 million, respectively.
However, Indonesia had a surplus with the US ($805 million), India ($650 million) and the Netherlands ($214 million).
