Indonesia's trade minister, Budi Santoso, expressed confidence that the country's trade balance will remain in surplus following a US$0.12 billion surplus recorded in July 2026. This follows consecutive deficits in May and June 2026, which were attributed to volatile energy markets and high domestic energy demand. Statistics Indonesia reported that July exports increased by 6.05% year-on-year to US$26.22 billion, while imports rose sharply by 27.02% to US$26.09 billion. Cumulative goods trade surplus for January–July 2026 totaled US$3.70 billion, driven primarily by manufacturing exports. The minister emphasized the need to focus on promoting non-oil and gas exports to sustain the surplus rather than relying on fluctuating energy prices.
Bias read (Center): The article presents balanced reporting on Indonesia's trade performance, citing official data and quotes from the trade minister without overtly favoring any political ideology. It provides factual economic indicators and government strategies without evident ideological slant.





