• Manufacturing Activity Indonesia Expands in March, End of Long Negative Streak

    After having experienced 17 straight months of contraction in the manufacturing sector, the Nikkei Indonesia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey rose to a reading of 50.6 in March 2016 from 48.7 in the preceding month (a reading above 50 indicates expansion of manufacturing activity) according to a statement released on Friday (01/04). This is very positive news although Indonesia's export performance remains in a state of decline. Manufacturing expansion was primarily caused by a rise in domestic demand.

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  • Indonesia's Inflation Rate Rises Slightly in March 2016

    In line with expectations, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that Indonesia's annual inflation rate only rose modestly in March 2016. The nation's March inflation figure climbed to 4.45 percent year-on-year (y/y) in March from 4.42 percent (y/y) in the preceding month. On a monthly basis, Indonesian inflation accelerated 0.19 percent (m/m) in March. The country's core inflation, which excludes administered and volatile food prices, stood at 3.50 percent, slighly below the average 3.60 percent estimate of analysts.

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  • Samsung Objects to Indonesia's New Smartphone Hardware & Software Plans

    Samsung Electronics Indonesia, subsidiary of the South Korea-based electronics giant, objects to new proposals currently being studied by the Indonesian government. Although in 2015 a regulation was signed by the government that requires local 4G smartphones manufacturers to use at least 30 percent of locally-sourced hardware content for domestically-sold smartphones (effective per January 2017), Indonesia's Industry Ministry recently proposed new rules regarding the mandatory locally-sourced content of both hardware and software for 4G smartphones.

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  • Premium Gasoline & Diesel Fuel Prices in Indonesia Cut per 1 April

    Per 1 April 2016 Indonesia's premium gasoline and diesel fuel prices decline by IDR 500 (approx. USD $0.04) per liter. Provided no shocks occur on the international crude oil market, these prices will remain at this level up to 31 September 2016. In January 2015 the Indonesian government scrapped generous subsidies for premium gasoline and capped the subsidy for diesel fuel at IDR 1,000 per liter. Ever since, Indonesian authorities evaluate prices of premium and diesel each quarter and determine prices based on crude oil price movements on the international market.

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