Jakarta – Indonesia's exports and imports grew more slowly than expected in April, while the country's trade balance was smaller than a month before, the Central Statistics Agency said on Monday (15/05).

Southeast Asia's largest economy had a $1.24 billion trade surplus in April, the agency said, more than the $860 million a Reuters poll had forecast, but smaller than the revised $1.39 billion for March.

Imports rose 10.31 percent from a year earlier to $11.93 billion in April. The poll's median forecast was for a 21.56 percent annual growth rate.

The agency said imports of consumer goods rose nearly 26 percent on a yearly basis. Increases in imports of capital goods and raw materials were smaller.

Exports rose 12.61 percent to $13.17 billion in April, versus the poll's forecast of 22.45 percent. Both exports' and imports' value in April were below that of March.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesias-april-export-import-growth-slower-expected/