Bandarlampung (Antaranews Lampung) - Indonesia recorded a trade deficit of US$1.16 billion in January 2019, up from $1.03 billion in December 2018, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).  
  
 "The trade deficit of $1.6 billion was caused by an oil and gas trade deficit of $454.8 million and a non-oil/non-gas trade deficit of $704.7 million," BPS Chief Suhariyanto stated at a press conference here on Friday.

Indonesia witnessed the largest trade deficit of $2.43 billion with China, higher than $1.84 billion a year earlier, he remarked.

Indonesia's exports had reached $13.87 billion in January 2019, down 3.24 percent as compared to December 2018 and 4.70 percent compared to January 2018.

Non-oil/non-gas exports in January 2019 slightly rose 0.38 percent to $12.63 billion as compared to December 2018 but fell 4.50 percent in comparison with January 2018.

Among the non-oil/non-gas commodities that recorded the highest export growth in January 2019 were metal ore, crust, and dust, at $80.3 million, or 37.08 percent. However, mechanical machines/appliances witnessed the largest export decline of $127.1 million.

 Meanwhile, Indonesia's imports in January 2019 slid 2.19 percent to $15.03 billion as compared to December 2018 and 1.83 percent compared to January 2018.

Non-oil/non-gas imports in January 2019 had reached $13.34 billion, representing a 0.004 percent rise compared to December 2018 and a 2.21 percent increase compared to January 2018.

Oil and gas imports in January 2019 tumbled 16.58 percent to $1.69 billion as compared to $2.03 billion in December 2018 and 25.22 percent compared to January 2018.

    Reporting by
(S012/INE)