Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – Despite scoring the highest export value of the past year in June, Indonesia saw a 4 percent year-on-year export decrease during the month to US$12.92 billion compared to $13.44 billion in June 2015.

On a month-on-month (mm) basis, export value increased 12.18 percent compared to May 2016. Oil and gas exports rose 23.92 percent mm from $960 million to $1.19 billion while non-oil and gas exports climbed 11.12 percent in the same period from $10.55 billion to $11.73 billion.

"June's exports were the highest [in the last year]. Hopefully it indicates good signs for the following months," Central Statistics Agency (BPS) head Suryamin said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

Likewise, June's imports also experienced an increase of 7.86 percent mm to $12.02 billion. Oil and gas imports rose 1.02 percent to $1.69 billion, while non-oil and gas imports climbed 9.07 percent to $10.33 percent. "But it fell 7.41 percent compared to imports in June 2015," Suryamin explained.

With the jump in June exports, the BPS recorded a trade surplus of $900.2 million, which grew significantly compared to the figure in May of $375.6 million. "Cumulatively, the trade surplus from January to June stood at $3.59 billion, from $69.51 billion of exports and $65.92 billion of imports," he said. (ags)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/07/15/exports-in-june-drop-4-compared-to-last-year.html