KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. Indonesia's current account deficit widened to its biggest in over four years in 2018's final quarter, despite efforts to curb imports, but the balance of payments returned to a surplus for the first time in a year, central bank data showed on Friday. The deficit in the current account, which shows trade in goods and services, widened to $9.1 billion or 3.57 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter, the largest since the second quarter of 2014, from 3.28 percent in the previous quarter. However, Southeast Asia's largest economy had a $5.4 billion surplus in its overall balance of payments on strong portfolio inflows in October-December, compared to a $4.4 billion deficit in the previous three months.
Indonesia's current account gap widens in Q4, BOP swings to surplus
KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. Indonesia's current account deficit widened to its biggest in over four years in 2018's final quarter, despite efforts to curb imports, but the balance of payments returned to a surplus for the first time in a year, central bank data showed on Friday. The deficit in the current account, which shows trade in goods and services, widened to $9.1 billion or 3.57 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter, the largest since the second quarter of 2014, from 3.28 percent in the previous quarter. However, Southeast Asia's largest economy had a $5.4 billion surplus in its overall balance of payments on strong portfolio inflows in October-December, compared to a $4.4 billion deficit in the previous three months.