Biggest since 2009 as a percentage of GDP, helps rupiah currency stay steady
Indonesia booked a current account surplus of $13.2 billion in 2022, or 1% of gross domestic product, as the resource-rich country enjoyed high commodity prices and exports last year, its central bank said.
The current account surplus in 2022 was the biggest since 2009 in terms of percentage of GDP, according to World Bank data.
"This performance was mainly supported by an increase in exports in line with high global commodity prices and demand for Indonesian commodities, which remained good, amidst imports which also increased in line with the improvement in the domestic economy," Bank Indonesia (BI) said in a statement on Monday.
Indonesia's current account surplus also helped its rupiah currency remain relatively steady against a strong dollar last year.
For all of 2022, Indonesia's exports of goods reached an annual historic high of $291.98 billion, resulting in the trade surplus reaching $54.46 billion, which was also a record high.
Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of palm oil and thermal coal. It is also a major supplier of tin, copper, rubber and nickel products, among other commodities.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's 2022 balance of payments stood at $4 billion, lower than the $13.5 billion the year before.
However, David Sumual, an economist with Bank Central Asia, said a high current account surplus might not be repeated this year, as prices of top commodities have been moderating in the last few months.
"I don't see exports this year will [be] as good as last year. ... [The] domestic economy is also improving, meaning product imports will be higher too," he said.
He projected that Indonesia's current account this year might reach a deficit of around 0.5% of GDP.
In the last quarter of 2022, Indonesia posted a balance of payments surplus of $4.7 billion, while the current account surplus was at $4.3 billion, or equivalent to 1.3% of GDP, BI said.
Source: Nikkei Asia
Share:
<p>Time: 2024 By: Ministry of Industry and Trade</p>
