BPS: Imports Of Raw Materials And Capital Goods Soar, Good For The Economy

Head of the Central Statistics Agency, Margo Yuwono. (Photo: Screenshot of BPS Youtube)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded an increase in imports of raw materials and capital goods in August 2021 by 8.39 percent and 16.44 percent respectively on a month-to-month (MtM) basis. On an annual basis or year-on-year, it was recorded at 59.59 percent and 34.56 percent.

Head of BPS, Margo Yuwono, said the structure of imports according to the use of goods made the two commodities support 74.20 percent of Indonesia's total imports in August 2021.

“This illustrates that industrial activities are getting better because imports of raw materials are increasing, imports of capital goods are also increasing. This condition indicates that demand from the industrial sector is quite good and imports of capital goods reflect the need for better production capacity", he said.

In her explanation, Margo revealed that the value of Indonesia's imports in August 2021 reached US$ 16.68 billion, up 10.35 percent compared to July 2021 or up 55.26 percent compared to August 2020.

In detail, oil and gas imports in August 2021 were worth US$ 2.05 billion, up 14.74 percent compared to July 2021 or up 115.75 percent compared to August 2020.

Meanwhile, non-oil and gas imports in August 2021 were valued at US$ 14.63 billion, up 9.76 percent compared to July 2021 or up 49.39 percent compared to July 2020.

"The largest increase in imports of non-oil and gas categories in August 2021 compared to July 2021 was machinery/mechanical equipment and parts of US$318.5 million (16.99 percent). Meanwhile, the biggest decline was in the dregs and the rest of the food industry, which amounted to US$ 96.4 million (23.65 percent)”, he said.

Furthermore, according to the category of use of goods, the value of imports from January to August 2021 against the same period the previous year saw an increase in consumption goods of US$ 2.82 billion (29.79 percent), raw/auxiliary materials US$ 25.00 billion (36.84 percent), and capital goods US$ 2.89 billion (19.60 percent).

On this occasion, the Head of BPS also said that the export value in August 2021 was US$21.42 billion. This means that there is a trade surplus of US$ 4.74 billion.

“This trade balance condition mainly came from the non-oil and gas sector of US$ 5.72 billion. Meanwhile, in the oil and gas sector, there was a deficit of US$980 million”, concluded Margo.