Maluku's Trade Balance Returns to Deficit

Trade Balance Posts US$158.94 Million Deficit

Ambon, (1/9) - Maluku's trade balance has again recorded a negative performance. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Maluku Province reported a deficit of US$158.94 million in goods trade for the January-July 2025 period, a decrease of US$109.54 million compared to the same period the previous year. This deficit was supported by imports, which reached US$185.34 million, higher than exports of US$26.41 million.

The value of exports for the January-July 2025 period fell 16.33 percent compared to the same period the previous year. The decrease in exports from January to July 2025 compared to the previous year was due to the absence of oil and gas exports during this period. In addition to the absence of oil and gas activities during this period, there were also no exports from other categories. Meanwhile, the fish and shrimp category increased by 25.39 percent from US$22.58 million to US$28.31 million.

In terms of destination countries, during the January-July 2025 period, China remained the primary export market for non-oil and gas commodities, with a value reaching US$25.22 million (89.08 percent), followed by Hong Kong at US$2.94 million (10.38 percent). Meanwhile, exports to regions outside Asia during this period contributed only 0.55 percent, with exports to the United States valued at US$0.15 million. The commodities exported during this period were fish and shrimp, including frozen fish, live marine fish, grouper, and frozen shrimp.

In addition to exports through ports in Maluku, exports of commodities from Maluku were also conducted through ports outside Maluku. From January to July 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, exports decreased by 13.82 percent, from US$17.92 million to US$15.44 million. The decline occurred across most commodity categories, including wood and its products; coffee, tea, and spices; and lacquer, gum, and resin. Each experienced a decline of over 70 percent. The commodity group that contributed the most to exports at ports outside Maluku during the January-July 2025 period was fish and shrimp, accounting for 45.91 percent of total commodity exports from Maluku. Overall, approximately 61.80 percent of commodity exports from Maluku were conducted through Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang and 32.13 percent through Tanjung Perak Port.

Meanwhile, in terms of imports, the Maluku Province Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded an import value of US$187.25 million from January to July 2025, a decrease of US$115.07 million (38.06 percent) compared to the same period the previous year. The oil and gas sector (US$185.34 million) remained the main contributor, a 34.96 percent decrease. Similarly, the non-oil and gas sector (US$1.90 million) declined by 89.03 percent.

The main contributors to non-oil and gas commodity imports, valued at US$1.90 million, were plastic sheets and packaging, cardboard boxes/packaging, other textile goods, general/special purpose machinery, and electrical equipment. In terms of usage, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) also noted that imports of raw and auxiliary materials decreased by 34.66 percent to US$186.75 million.

In terms of their contribution to total imports from January to July 2025, Singapore still contributed the most at 71.85 percent (US$134.53 million), followed by Malaysia at 27.14 percent (US$50.81 million), and China at 1.02 percent (US$1.90 million). Thus, ASEAN contributed 98.98 percent, and the rest of Asia 1.02 percent.

Meanwhile, in July alone, exports reached US$5.18 million, a 1,151.94 percent increase compared to July 2024, which was only US$0.41 million. Meanwhile, imports reached US$17.51 ​​million, down 74.54 percent compared to July 2024 (US$68.78 million).

Deflation Occurred in August 2025

The Maluku Province Statistics Agency (BPS) further recorded deflation in August 2025 of 0.09 percent (m-to-m), or a decrease in the consumer price index (CPI) from 110.10 in July 2025 to 110.00 in August 2025. Annually, inflation was 3.25 percent, and calendar-year inflation was 2.81 percent.

The largest expenditure group contributing to monthly deflation was food, beverages, and tobacco, which experienced deflation of 0.32 percent, with a contribution of 0.11 percent. Other expenditure groups experiencing deflation were clothing and footwear, with a 0.51 percent contribution to deflation of 0.03 percent, and personal care and other services, with a 0.39 percent contribution to deflation of 0.03 percent.

Commodities contributing predominantly to month-to-month deflation in August 2025 included: tomatoes, airfares, red chilies, skipjack tuna, gasoline, disposable diapers, mackerel, tuna, mustard greens, kale, spinach, raw tofu, cassava leaves, ice cream, smoked fish, chayote, and taro.

The commodities that contributed most to year-on-year inflation in August 2025 included: shallots, rice, gold jewelry, tomatoes, selar/kawalinya fish, scad/mumar fish, skipjack tuna/komu fish, cooking oil, machine-made clove cigarettes (SKM), ground coffee, green beans, skipjack tuna, coconut, machine-made white cigarettes (SPM), mackerel/lema fish, long beans, motorcycles, smoked fish, fried chicken, and rice with side dishes.

By region, the deepest monthly deflation occurred in Tual City at 1.00 percent with a CPI of 110.90, and the highest inflation occurred in Ambon City at 0.52 percent with a CPI of 111.00.

Number of Domestic Tourist Trips Increases

The number of domestic tourist trips in July 2025 reached 303,820. This number increased by 5.13 percent compared to June 2025 (month-to-month). Similarly, compared to the same month in the previous year (year-on-year), it increased by 114.51 percent. Cumulatively, as of July 2025, domestic tourist trips in Maluku reached 2,067,920, representing a 70.30 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

The Maluku Province Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that based on destination area, Ambon City was the highest tourist destination, reaching 118,240 trips in July 2025, or approximately 38.92 percent of total domestic tourist trips in Maluku. The next highest-ranking destination regencies were Central Maluku (78,130,000 trips) and West Seram (31,130,000 trips). The composition of these three main destination regencies follows a similar pattern to the composition of the three main origin regencies.

The next tourism indicator released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) is the occupancy rate for hotels and other accommodations (TPK). The occupancy rate (TPK) in July 2025 reached 20.71 percent, a 0.61 point increase compared to June 2025. Hotel occupancy rates can be divided into star-rated hotels and other accommodations. The occupancy rate for star-rated hotels in Maluku reached 33.98 percent in July 2025, a 1.83 point increase compared to the previous month (month-to-month). A similar trend was observed for other accommodations, with the occupancy rate increasing by 0.23 points in July 2025 to 16.53 percent. Cumulatively, as of July 2025, the occupancy rate for star-rated hotels in Maluku reached 29.13 percent, a 4.72 point decrease compared to the same period the previous year.

Farmer's Exchange Rate Declines

The Farmer's Exchange Rate (NTP) for Maluku Province in August 2025 reached 96.82, a 1.29 percent decrease compared to July 2025. The decline in the NTP occurred because the price index received by farmers (It) decreased by 0.88 percent, while the price index paid by farmers (Ib) increased by 0.41 percent.

Domestic Air Passenger Arrivals Increase

The Maluku Province Statistics Agency (BPS) also recorded that in July 2025, the number of domestic air passenger arrivals reached 43.38 thousand people, an increase of 9.75 percent compared to the previous month. An increase in passenger departures also occurred for domestic sea transportation. The number of passengers departing by sea transportation in Maluku in July 2025 was recorded at 57.30 thousand people at gathering ports and 45.36 thousand people at main ports. Compared to June 2025, passenger departures increased by 26.58 percent at main ports and 6.86 percent at receiving ports.

Meanwhile, domestic air freight reached 541.58 tons in July 2025, a 4.71 percent increase compared to the previous month, a 2.09 percent increase year-on-year, and a 12.17 percent increase compared to the cumulative January-July period of last year. Freight volume by sea transportation also increased, with cargo volume at receiving ports recorded at 59.79 thousand tons, a significant 24.71 percent increase compared to June 2025 and a 36.89 percent increase compared to July 2024. Freight volume at main ports also increased by 15.39 percent from the previous month, although it decreased by 10.93 percent compared to July 2024.

Media Contact

Penina A. Salawane

BPS-Statistics Maluku Province

[email protected]