JAKARTA: Indonesia posted a smaller-than-expected trade surplus in October after exports unexpectedly fell on the back of lower shipments of mining products, official data showed on Monday.
In October, the surplus stood at $2.4 billion, smaller than the $3.72 billion forecast by economists polled by Reuters and narrower than September's $4.34 billion surplus.
Southeast Asia's largest economy has enjoyed a relatively large trade surplus almost every month in 2025, supported by higher shipments of palm oil, gold and jewellery and even as the prices of its top commodity, coal and nickel, remain weak.
Exports surprised with a fall of 2.31% in October from a year earlier to $24.24 billion, weaker than the 3.38% growth expected by analysts.
Imports contracted by 1.15% to $21.84 billion, compared with a forecast fall of 2.2% in the poll.
Statistics Indonesia is due to release inflation and other data later on Monday. - Reuters
