Economist and Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara assessed that Indonesia's export opportunities can be increased to countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in order to maintain a trade surplus. "The government may need to penetrate the export market in ASEAN, because ASEAN in January-February 2025 increased by 46%. The market in ASEAN is still good," Bhima told ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that Indonesia's goods trade balance had a surplus of USD 3.12 billion or decreased by USD 0.38 billion on a monthly basis.
Based on BPS records, the value of Indonesia's non-oil and gas product exports to the ASEAN region in January-February 2025 increased by 2.26% compared to the same period in the previous year. In addition, Bhima assessed that Indonesia also needs to find alternative export markets in order to maintain a trade surplus and anticipate a trade war. "Finding alternative export markets, especially in South America, the Pacific Islands, South Asia and the Middle East which are prospective. So there must be a special trade mission to potential alternative countries," he said. BPS also noted that the surplus in February 2025 was more supported by a surplus in non-oil and gas commodities of USD 4.84 billion, consisting of vegetable fats and oils, mineral fuels, and iron and steel.
