Bali fabrics
From January to March 2018, exported goods from Indonesia were valued at $44.3 billion. This three-month metric puts Indonesian exports on track for an annualized $177.1 billion estimated for all 2018.
Based on estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, Indonesia’s exported goods plus services represent 19.2% of total Indonesian economic output or Gross Domestic Product. Please note that the overall value of exported goods and services includes a sizable share of re-exports. The analysis below focuses on exported products only.
From a continental perspective, 70.7% of Indonesian exports by value were delivered to fellow Asian countries while 11.6% were sold to North American importers closely trailed by European destinations at 11.4%. Smaller percentages were shipped to Africa (2.8%), Australia and other Oceania importers (1.9%) and Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (1.5%).
Given Indonesia’s population of 260.6 million people, its total $168.8 billion in 2017 exports translates to roughly $650 for every resident in that country.
Indonesia’s unemployment rate was 5.5% at December 2017 down from 5.61% as of September 2016, according to Trading Economics.
Indonesia’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Indonesian global shipments during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Indonesia.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$36.9 billion (21.8% of total exports)
- Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $23 billion (13.6%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $8.5 billion (5%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $7.7 billion (4.6%)
- Vehicles: $6.8 billion (4%)
- Machinery including computers: $5.9 billion (3.5%)
- Gems, precious metals: $5.6 billion (3.3%)
- Footwear: $4.9 billion (2.9%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $4.1 billion (2.5%)
- Wood: $4 billion (2.4%)
Indonesia’s top 10 exports account for almost two-thirds (63.6%) of Indonesia’s total exports.
Up by 36.7% from 2016 to 2017, rubber and articles made from rubber posted the fastest-growing among the top 10 export categories.
In second place for improving export sales were mineral fuels-related products which rose in value by 32.3% led by coal, petroleum gas, lignite and refined petroleum oils.
Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes generated the third-fastest gain in value via a 26% year-over-year improvement, trailed by the 16.5% uptick for Indonesia’s exported vehicle sales.
Gems and precious metals was the sole declining category retreating in value by -11.9% since 2016, thanks mainly to slowing jewelry exports.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Indonesia’s Most Valuable Export Products below.
Advantages
Overall Indonesia garnered an $11.9 billion trade surplus during 2017, up 34.5% from $8.8 billion in black ink in 2016.
The following types of Indonesian product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: US$22.8 billion (Up by 26.1% since 2016)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $11.4 billion (Up by 32.5%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $5.7 billion (Up by 43%)
- Gems, precious metals: $4.5 billion (Down by -18.3%)
- Footwear: $4.3 billion (Up by 3.6%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $3.8 billion (Up by 5.2%)
- Wood: $3.6 billion (Up by 2%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $3.5 billion (Up by 11.4%)
- Ores, slag, ash: $3.3 billion (Down by -0.1%)
- Fish: $3 billion (Up by 12%)
Indonesia has highly positive net exports in the international trade of palm oil, coconut oil and margarine. In turn, these cashflows indicate Indonesia’s strong competitive advantages under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category.
Opportunities
Below are exports from Indonesia that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Indonesia’s goods trail Indonesian importer spending on foreign products.
- Machinery including computers: -US$15.9 billion (Up by 1.8% since 2016)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$9.5 billion (Up by 30%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$5.3 billion (Up by 12.3%)
- Iron, steel: -$4.6 billion (Up by 6.5%)
- Cereals: -$2.9 billion (Down by -8.1%)
- Organic chemicals: -$2.8 billion (Up by 15.6%)
- Sugar, sugar confectionery: -$2.1 billion (Down by -0.8%)
- Food industry waste, animal fodder: -$2 billion (Up by 6.3%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$2 billion (Up by 9.9%)
- Articles of iron or steel: -$1.6 billion (Up by 23.4%)
Indonesia has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for machinery, particularly computers.
Companies
Indonesian Export Companies
Nine Indonesian corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Indonesian conglomerates that Forbes included:
- Gudang Garam (Tobacco)
- Semen Indonesia (Construction Materials)
- Telekom Indonesia (Telecommunications services)
Wikipedia also lists exporters from Indonesia. Selected examples are shown below:
- Astra International (financial/industrial conglomerate)
- Bumi Resources (coal)
- Djarum (tobacco cigarettes)
- Dragon Computer & Communication (computer hardware)
- Krakatau Steel (steel products)
- MedcoEnergi (oil, gas)
- Pertamina (oil, natural gas)
- United Tractors (heavy equipment)
Searchable List of Indonesia’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, Indonesia’s top export products are palm oil an coal followed by petroleum gases, crude oil, natural rubber and copper then cars.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Indonesia during 2017. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2016.
| Rank | Indonesia's Export Product | 2017 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm oil | $18.5 billion | +28.9% |
| 2 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $17.9 billion | +38.5% |
| 3 | Petroleum gases | $8.9 billion | +25.9% |
| 4 | Crude oil | $5.2 billion | +0.8% |
| 5 | Natural rubber | $5.1 billion | +51.4% |
| 6 | Copper ores, concentrates | $3.4 billion | -1.2% |
| 7 | Cars | $3.1 billion | +20.7% |
| 8 | Coconut/palm/babassu oil | $3 billion | +11.1% |
| 9 | Industrial fatty acids and alcohols | $3 billion | +28.4% |
| 10 | Jewelry | $2.6 billion | -35.3% |
| 11 | Lignite | $2.6 billion | +60.8% |
| 12 | Footwear (leather) | $2.6 billion | +12.9% |
| 13 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $2.3 billion | +46.5% |
| 14 | Automobile parts/accessories | $2.1 billion | +3.6% |
| 15 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $2 billion | +13.3% |
| 16 | Gold (unwrought) | $1.9 billion | +38% |
| 17 | Laminated wood (including plywood, veneer panels) | $1.7 billion | -23.4% |
| 18 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $1.7 billion | +15.4% |
| 19 | Footwear (textile) | $1.7 billion | -2.5% |
| 20 | Printing machinery | $1.6 billion | +18.4% |
| 21 | Rubber tires (new) | $1.6 billion | -2% |
| 22 | Tin (unprocessed) | $1.6 billion | +40.3% |
| 23 | Iron ferroalloys | $1.3 billion | +127.3% |
| 24 | Insulated wire/cable | $1.3 billion | +11.2% |
| 25 | Coffee | $1.2 billion | +17.7% |
| 26 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1.1 billion | +3.6% |
| 27 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $1.1 billion | +37.2% |
| 28 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $951.9 million | +1.3% |
| 29 | Processed petroleum oils | $909 million | +127% |
| 30 | Margarine | $908.8 million | +32.7% |
| 31 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $906.9 million | +23.1% |
| 32 | Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes | $904.7 million | +12.5% |
| 33 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $897.5 million | -8.1% |
| 34 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $883.2 million | +30.3% |
| 35 | Synthetic staple fiber yarn | $814.2 million | +2.7% |
| 36 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $749.9 million | +20% |
| 37 | Motorcycles | $744.3 million | +59% |
| 38 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $724 million | +3.2% |
| 39 | Petroleum oil residues | $718.3 million | +56.8% |
| 40 | Shaped wood | $682.6 million | +11.1% |
| 41 | Cocoa butter, fat, oil | $681.1 million | -2.4% |
| 42 | Soap, organic surface-active preparations | $677 million | +22% |
| 43 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $664.3 million | +162.1% |
| 44 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $647.3 million | +24.4% |
| 45 | Nickel matte, oxide sinters | $629.3 million | +7.7% |
| 46 | Women's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $610.1 million | +9% |
| 47 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $599.2 million | +19.6% |
| 48 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $590 million | +18.2% |
| 49 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $575.1 million | +675.7% |
| 50 | Copper wire | $559.4 million | +11.9% |
| 51 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $556.5 million | +9.2% |
| 52 | Coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews | $555 million | +48.6% |
| 53 | Acyclic alcohols | $542.7 million | +42.1% |
| 54 | Electrical capacitators | $541 million | +8.9% |
| 55 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $539.8 million | +5.3% |
| 56 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $529.1 million | +8% |
| 57 | Household/sanitary rolls | $528.7 million | +5% |
| 58 | Miscellaneous wooden articles | $525 million | +24842.7% |
| 59 | Crustaceans, molluscs (preserved/prepared) | $524.9 million | -17.2% |
| 60 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $515.7 million | -14.5% |
| 61 | Primary batteries/cells | $506.6 million | +9.3% |
| 62 | #N/A | $505.9 million | +1.3% |
| 63 | Yarn (85%+ cotton) | $499.7 million | +15.9% |
| 64 | Electrical converters/power units | $498.3 million | +26.9% |
| 65 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $498.2 million | -4.2% |
| 66 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $485.3 million | -4.2% |
| 67 | Synthetic rubber | $484.9 million | +350.1% |
| 68 | Miscellaneous oil cakes | $484.7 million | +17.3% |
| 69 | Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates | $479.7 million | +13.1% |
| 70 | Whole fish (frozen) | $471.4 million | +21.2% |
| 71 | Fish fillets, pieces | $445.8 million | +4.3% |
| 72 | Medication mixes in dosage | $438.1 million | -1% |
| 73 | Wigs, false beards, eyebrows | $437.6 million | +14.6% |
| 74 | Men's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $437 million | -3.1% |
| 75 | Men's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $429 million | +15.8% |
| 76 | Stainless steel ingots | $425.4 million | +1297.8% |
| 77 | Synthetic filament yarn | $418.3 million | +9.6% |
| 78 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $417.3 million | -8.2% |
| 79 | Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared) | $405.9 million | +23.8% |
| 80 | Piston engine parts | $405.5 million | +28.4% |
| 81 | Moluscs | $400.9 million | +16.9% |
| 82 | Piston engines | $397 million | +24.4% |
| 83 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $395.4 million | +58% |
| 84 | Wood carpentry, builders' joinery | $394.3 million | +8.7% |
| 85 | Bras, corsets (not knit or crochet) | $383.9 million | +9.3% |
| 86 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $383.9 million | +10.9% |
| 87 | Other food preparations | $382.4 million | +5.8% |
| 88 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $363.2 million | +36.1% |
| 89 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $361.2 million | -1.9% |
| 90 | Coated paper | $345.4 million | -10.4% |
| 91 | Refrigerators, freezers | $343.5 million | +4.6% |
| 92 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $341.5 million | +1% |
| 93 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $338.3 million | +19.8% |
| 94 | Miscellaneous nuts | $335.3 million | +19.1% |
| 95 | Copper waste, scrap | $331.7 million | +53.6% |
| 96 | Aluminum oxide/hydroxide | $331.3 million | +158.2% |
| 97 | Men's suits,trousers (knit or crochet) | $327.6 million | +21.9% |
| 98 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $324.4 million | +42.6% |
| 99 | Animal/vegetable hydrogenated fats, oils | $315.8 million | +1.1% |
| 100 | Computers, optical readers | $311.1 million | +13.9% |
| 101 | Uncombed artificial staple fibers | $310.4 million | +23.6% |
| 102 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $304.9 million | -8.1% |
| 103 | Ammonia | $301.2 million | -9% |
| 104 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $294.6 million | +5.1% |
| 105 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $294.5 million | +11.2% |
| 106 | Computer parts, accessories | $286.8 million | +11.1% |
| 107 | Turtle eggs, bird nests | $280.6 million | +45.7% |
| 108 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $271.5 million | +48.6% |
| 109 | Air or vacuum pumps | $263.9 million | +13.6% |
| 110 | Clothing, accessories (vulcanized rubber) | $260.1 million | +11.8% |
| 111 | Machinery parts | $258.5 million | +16.9% |
| 112 | Phone system devices | $255.3 million | +95.3% |
| 113 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $253.3 million | +7.6% |
| 114 | Electrical musical instruments | $252.2 million | +4.3% |
| 115 | Electric storage batteries | $245.5 million | -20.5% |
| 116 | Pepper (dried/crushed/ground) | $244.1 million | -44.7% |
| 117 | Electric motors, generators | $242.8 million | -4.3% |
| 118 | Wood charcoal | $241.3 million | +26.6% |
| 119 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $234.9 million | +23.8% |
| 120 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $233.1 million | +23.5% |
| 121 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $231 million | +16.3% |
| 122 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $230.9 million | -19.8% |
| 123 | Pasta, couscous | $229.5 million | +18.4% |
| 124 | Uncoated paper | $228.4 million | +390.2% |
| 125 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $227.3 million | +36% |
| 126 | Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery | $219.7 million | +965.1% |
| 127 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $210.2 million | +12.7% |
| 128 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $209 million | +115.5% |
| 129 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $202.2 million | +28.7% |
| 130 | Video recording equipment | $201.1 million | -47.5% |
| 131 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $200.3 million | -32.2% |
| 132 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $199.7 million | -9.3% |
| 133 | Infant clothing (knit or crochet) | $196.7 million | +12.4% |
| 134 | Telecommunication receivers | $192.2 million | +9.8% |
| 135 | Cocoa paste | $189.9 million | -22.4% |
| 136 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $185.9 million | +763.2% |
| 137 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $184.7 million | +70.7% |
| 138 | Ball, roller bearings | $182.1 million | +8.5% |
| 139 | Hydrocarbon derivatives | $180.8 million | +30.4% |
| 140 | Synthetic organic coloring | $175.7 million | -6.8% |
| 141 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $173.7 million | +19% |
| 142 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $171.9 million | +15.4% |
| 143 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $170.4 million | -0.1% |
| 144 | Tracksuits, swimwear (not knit or crochet) | $169.3 million | +21.7% |
| 145 | Pig iron | $166.1 million | -68.9% |
| 146 | Print/write/draw inks | $166 million | +11.6% |
| 147 | Locust beans | $165.2 million | +29% |
| 148 | Uncarded synthetic staple fibers | $161.3 million | +5.8% |
| 149 | Essential oils | $160.4 million | -3.6% |
| 150 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $159.7 million | +5.1% |
| 151 | Knit/crochet women's blouses, shirts | $156 million | +13.2% |
| 152 | Nickel ores, concentrates | $155.2 million | #DIV/0! |
| 153 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $153.8 million | +20.5% |
| 154 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $153.7 million | -78.1% |
| 155 | Tracksuits, swimwear (knit or crochet) | $152.6 million | -4.2% |
| 156 | Cocoa powder (no added sugar) | $152.2 million | -7.2% |
| 157 | Electric shavers, hair clippers/removers | $152 million | +14.5% |
| 158 | Cinnamon | $148.1 million | +57.3% |
| 159 | Float/ground/polished glass in sheets | $146.4 million | -7.1% |
| 160 | Miscellaneous vegetable goods | $142.6 million | +37.4% |
| 161 | Women's underwear, pajamas (knit or crochet) | $142.3 million | +7.5% |
| 162 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $141.2 million | +45.4% |
| 163 | Unsaturated acyclic mono acids | $140.5 million | +72.1% |
| 164 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $136.4 million | +78% |
| 165 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $133.5 million | +22.3% |
| 166 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $133.3 million | +13.5% |
| 167 | Keyboard stringed insruments (pianos) | $132.7 million | -10.4% |
| 168 | Unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco waste | $132.4 million | +3% |
| 169 | Stockings, hosiery (knit or crochet) | $131.9 million | -9.2% |
| 170 | Registers, account books, note books | $131.3 million | +10.3% |
| 171 | Acrylic polymers | $130.4 million | +6.7% |
| 172 | Hydraulic cements | $129.4 million | +57.2% |
| 173 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $129.2 million | -0.7% |
| 174 | Insoles, heel cushions | $127.6 million | +11.8% |
| 175 | Men's shirts (knit or crochet) | $127.2 million | -13.5% |
| 176 | Sugar confectionery (no cocoa) | $124.9 million | +0.4% |
| 177 | Vulcanized rubber items | $124.4 million | +7.3% |
| 178 | Biodiesel | $123.3 million | -57.1% |
| 179 | Sauces, mixed condiments/seasonings | $123.1 million | -6.1% |
| 180 | Nutmeg, mace, cardamoms | $120.4 million | +24.5% |
| 181 | Ceramic wares (technical uses) | $120.3 million | +20.5% |
| 182 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $120.3 million | +13.5% |
| 183 | Electrical machinery | $119.9 million | +41.8% |
| 184 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $119.8 million | -8.7% |
| 185 | Polycarboxylic acids | $117.7 million | +118.2% |
| 186 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $114.6 million | -9.9% |
| 187 | Tea (including flavored) | $114.2 million | +1% |
| 188 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $112.9 million | +2.9% |
| 189 | Men's coats including windbreakers | $112.5 million | +22.6% |
| 190 | Electrical resistors | $112.3 million | +8.8% |
| 191 | Iron and steel stranded wire, cables (uninsulated) | $111.5 million | +19.5% |
| 192 | Whole fish (fresh) | $109.6 million | -15.3% |
| 193 | Baby clothing, accessories | $104.6 million | +42.1% |
| 194 | Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust | $104.2 million | -18.2% |
| 195 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $103.7 million | -60.2% |
| 196 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $102.8 million | -2.7% |
| 197 | Pipe/chewing/snuff tobaccos | $102.5 million | +33.1% |
| 198 | Woven fabrics (mostly synthetic staple fibers) | $101.5 million | -7.1% |
| 199 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $101.3 million | +8.4% |
| 200 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $101 million | +38.3% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$154.3 billion or 91.4% by value for all products exported from Indonesia during 2017.
Indonesia’s capital city is Jakarta.
See also Indonesia’s Top Trading Partners, Indonesia’s Top 10 Imports, Top Asian Export Countries and Coal Exports by Country
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on April 22, 2018
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 22, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on April 22, 2018
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 22, 2018
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Indonesia. Accessed on April 22, 2018
Forbes 2015 Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on April 22, 2018
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