The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has released the import figures for Indonesia in October 2023. According to Pudji Ismartini, the Deputy for Distribution and Service Statistics at BPS, Indonesia's import value for October 2023 reached USD 18.67 billion, showing a 7.68% increase compared to September 2023. However, Pudji stated that this import value reflects a 2.42% decrease compared to October 2022, as revealed during a hybrid press conference on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. In terms of specific categories, the import of oil and gas (migas) in October 2023 amounted to USD 3.21 billion, marking a 3.66% decrease compared to the previous month. On the other hand, non-oil and gas imports reached USD 15.47 billion, indicating a 10.37% increase compared to the previous month.
Pudji highlighted that the monthly increase in imports was driven by the rise in the import of commodities such as machinery and electrical equipment by 21.06%, machinery and mechanical equipment and parts by 11.19%, and cereals by 23.52%. On an annual basis, the import value for October 2023 decreased by 2.42%. Looking at specific categories on a yearly basis, the import of migas decreased by 4.68%, while non-migas imports decreased by 1.94%. Despite the monthly increase, the yearly comparison suggests a nuanced picture of Indonesia's import performance, reflecting fluctuations in global trade dynamics and the impact of various economic factors. The focus on non-migas imports, including machinery and cereals, points to the ongoing demand for capital goods and essential commodities, contributing to Indonesia's overall trade activities.
