- Indonesia’s exports to the US climbed 16.66% in 2025 to US$ 30.96 billion, according to Trade Minister Budi Santoso.
- The US has overtaken India as Indonesia’s biggest surplus-generating partner, with officials citing stronger diplomacy and trade engagement.
- Jakarta expects further gains as reciprocal tariff negotiations enter legal drafting and potential exemptions are discussed with the USTR.
Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the United States has become Indonesia’s largest surplus-generating trading partner, overtaking India. Based on full-year 2025 data, the value of Indonesian exports to the US rose sharply by 16.66%.
In an official statement issued in Jakarta on Friday (Feb. 6), the minister said Indonesia’s exports to the US in 2025 reached US$ 30.96 billion, up from US$ 26.54 billion in 2024.
“Our biggest surplus is now with the United States, followed by India, the Philippines, the Netherlands and Vietnam. Global confidence in Indonesia—particularly through President Prabowo Subianto’s international diplomatic engagement—has become the key driver behind this growth,” said Santoso, who is widely known by his nickname, Busan.
Key highlights of Indonesia–US trade performance:
Shift in surplus map: The United States now ranks first as Indonesia’s top surplus destination, a strategic milestone compared with previous periods when India often held the leading position.
Impact of active diplomacy: The growth is seen as a tangible result of stronger bilateral ties and intensified economic diplomacy pursued by President Prabowo Subianto on the international stage.
Tariff agreement nearing completion: The government is optimistic the momentum will continue as negotiations on a Reciprocal Tariff Agreement enter the final technical stage, including legal drafting.
Tariff exemptions for flagship products: An understanding with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) includes potential tariff exemptions for Indonesia’s leading products that are not produced in the US, which is expected to further strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesian exports.
Despite global trade dynamics increasingly shaped by reciprocal policies in many countries, the Trade Ministry said Indonesia remains on a positive growth track. More information on Indonesia’s foreign trade policies is available on the official website of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesianpost.com | Republika
