Indonesia Imports Rise Less than Expected

Indonesia’s imports surged 18.21% year-on-year to USD 21.21 billion in January 2026, accelerating from 10.81% in December and comfortably exceeding market expectations of a 13.23% rise. It marked the strongest annual growth since April 2025, as non-oil and gas imports climbed 16.71% to USD 18.04 billion, driven by higher purchases of machinery and mechanical appliances and parts thereof (12.09%), electrical machinery and equipment and parts (29.54%), and vehicles and their accessories (7.48%). Oil and gas imports rose even more sharply, jumping 27.52% to USD 3.17 billion, led by increases in crude oil (118.45%) and oil products (1.58%). By origin, non-oil and gas imports were primarily sourced from China, which accounted for 43.75% of the total at USD 7.89 billion, followed by Australia (5.92% or USD 1.07 billion) and Japan (5.25% or USD 0.95 billion).

Indonesia’s imports unexpectedly increased 10.81% year-on-year to a record high of USD 23.83 billion in December 2025, accelerating sharply from a 0.46% rise in November and beating market forecasts of a 0.7% decline, amid the government’s efforts to boost domestic demand. This marked the fastest increase in imports since last April. The rise was driven by a 1.71% increase in oil and gas imports, reflecting higher oil product purchases (4.05%), while non–oil and gas imports rose 12.46% to USD 20.48 billion, rebounding from a 1.15% decline in November. By country, imports increased from China (25.69%), the US (28.07%), ASEAN (10.60%), and the EU (3.30%). Conversely, purchases from Japan plunged 15.15%. By commodity, imports rose mainly for electrical machinery and equipment, and their parts (43.24%), as well as machinery and mechanical equipment and their parts (23.09%). For the full year of 2025, total imports grew 2.83% year-on-year to USD 241.86 billion.

Indonesia’s imports increased 0.46% year-on-year to USD 19.86 billion in November 2025, rebounding from a 1.15% decline in October, smaller than market forecasts of a 3.2% rise. The increase was mainly driven by an 11.19% rise in oil and gas imports, reflecting higher crude oil purchases (76.93%). In contrast, non–oil and gas imports shrank 1.15% to USD 17 billion, reversing a 3.26% increase in October. By country, imports increased from China (10.47%), Taiwan (2.52%), and the EU (21.75%). Conversely, purchases from Japan plunged 25.42%, while those from the US fell 5.94% and those from South Korea slumped 27.34%. By commodity, imports rose for electrical machinery and equipment, and their parts (29.60%). Over January–November 2025, total imports climbed 2.03% year-on-year to USD 218.02 billion.