East Nusa Tenggara Books US$34.71 Million Trade Surplus Jan–July 2026

Kupang — East Nusa Tenggara booked a foreign-trade surplus of US$34.71 million in the January–July 2026 period, driven by exports far exceeding imports, according to the provincial office of Statistics Indonesia (BPS NTT). The agency reported cumulative exports of US$37.71 million against imports of US$2.99 million.

The figures were presented in Kupang by BPS NTT head Matamira B. Kale in early September, according to a report by public broadcaster RRI. The data show that the surplus was maintained even though total exports fell 10.43 percent compared with the same period of 2025.

BPS NTT reported that non-oil and gas exports remained the backbone of the province’s foreign trade. Over the seven months, non-oil and gas shipments reached US$35.85 million, down 12.34 percent year on year, while oil and gas exports made up the remainder.

Manufacturing dominates export structure

According to BPS NTT, manufacturing products accounted for the largest share of East Nusa Tenggara’s exports in the January–July 2026 period. Manufactured goods contributed 82.24 percent of total export value, making the sector the dominant driver of the province’s trade performance.

Agricultural products ranked second with a 10.67 percent share, while mining commodities supplied 2.18 percent of exports. The agency noted that manufacturing also dominated July’s monthly exports, with shipments worth US$5.06 million, slightly lower than in July 2025.

BPS NTT identified several manufactured and other goods among the 10 largest export categories that recorded growth in the first seven months of 2026. Aircraft and parts grouped under Harmonized System (HS) code 88 posted the largest increase in export value, rising by US$1.73 million.

Mineral fuels in HS 27 increased by US$650,000, while vehicles and parts in HS 87 rose by US$320,000 in the January–July period. The agency underlined that gains in these categories helped offset weaker performance in other export groups.

Timor-Leste remains the main export market

BPS NTT reported that Timor-Leste was East Nusa Tenggara’s primary export destination in the first seven months of 2026. Shipments to Timor-Leste reached US$30.44 million, accounting for about 80.7 percent of the province’s total export value.

Turkey ranked as the second-largest export market with a value of US$2.28 million, followed by Japan at US$1.08 million. The concentration of exports in Timor-Leste indicates that East Nusa Tenggara’s overall export performance is closely linked to demand from its neighbour, particularly for manufactured goods.

On a monthly basis, the province’s July 2026 exports reached US$5.68 million, down 9.37 percent year on year, according to BPS NTT data cited by RRI. Non-oil and gas exports contributed US$5.47 million, while oil and gas exports were valued at US$210,000.

Imports in July 2026 were reported at US$750,000, a sharp decline from around US$1.9 million in July 2025. Cumulative imports in the January–July period totaled 8,129.46 tonnes and were nearly half their level a year earlier.

With July’s monthly trade surplus recorded at US$4.93 million and exports continuing to outpace imports, BPS NTT concluded that East Nusa Tenggara’s January–July 2026 trade surplus was supported primarily by the wide gap between export and import values rather than by export growth.

Sources

• RRI Kupang – "Ekspor NTT Januari-Juli 2026 Turun 10,43 Persen"
• BPS NTT – Statistik Perdagangan Luar Negeri NTT (cover and country destination tables)
• Suara.com – "Ekspor RI Naik Jadi USD 167 Miliar per Juli 2026, Tapi Impor Melonjak Hampir 20"
• Republika – "Ekspor NTT 2025 Mencapai 76,64 Juta Dolar AS, Turun 8,64 Persen dari Tahun Sebelumnya"