Indonesia's trade surplus likely widened in November from a month earlier to $3 billion, even as exports were expected to have shrunk further on a yearly basis, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday. Fifteen economists surveyed by Reuters forecast a $3.06 billion trade surplus for Southeast Asia's largest economy in November, up from $2.4 billion in the previous month.
Statistics Indonesia will release the official trade data on Monday, January 5, along with December inflation and other economic data.
The rate of contraction in exports was seen slowing to 0.53% on a yearly basis, following October's 2.31% decline. Imports were seen up 3.2%, after shrinking 1.15% in October. Exports got a boost earlier in the year when exporters frontloaded shipments ahead of the implementation of U.S. tariffs in August.
Shipments unexpectedly fell in October amid weaker demand from biggest trade partner China and falling sales of coal and copper.
Imports have softened amid tepid domestic demand and a weak rupiah. The rupiah has weakened more than 3% against the U.S. dollar this year, making imports costlier.
Economists in the poll also expected annual inflation to remain roughly unchanged from the previous month at 2.73% in December, within the central bank's 1.5% to 3.5% target range for 2025.
