Comprised of over 17,000 islands making it the world’s biggest island country by area, the Republic of Indonesia imported US$141.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That metric reflects a -17.3% reduction from $171.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Indonesia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Indonesian imports during 2020 for each of Indonesia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.3%) of total Indonesian import purchases.

Indonesia’s vast array of islands shares land borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. Indonesian maritime boundaries are with Australia, India, Malaysia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. The resulting geographic proximity provides Indonesia with advantages in international trade for shipping and receiving commodities.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Indonesian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Indonesia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $39.6 billion or 28% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.3% of Indonesia’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $9.4 billion
Machinery: $9 billion
Plastics: $1.6 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.4 billion
Iron and steel: $1.3 billion
Iron or steel products: $992.4 million
Other chemical goods: $961.4 million
Vehicles: $937.5 million
Fruits, nuts: $823.7 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $805.5 million
Man-made filaments: $651.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $650.9 million
Vegetables: $635.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $562.4 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $558.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from China under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 41.1% gain in revenue, mineral fuels including oil (up 10%) and vegetables (up 8%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -37.5%), man-made filaments (down -34.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -33.3%), machinery (down -16.1%), plastics as a material (down -12.9%) and vehicles (down -12.5%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $12.3 billion or 8.7% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -29.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.3% of Indonesia’s imports from Singapore.

Mineral fuels including oil: $4.3 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.8 billion
Machinery: $1.3 billion
Plastics: $1 billion
Organic chemicals: $659.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $402.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $304.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $293.8 million
Other chemical goods: $276.1 million
Iron or steel products: $233.5 million
Iron and steel: $233.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $113.1 million
Paper: $112.9 million
Rubber: $97.1 million
Ships, boats: $93.2 million

The sole increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Singapore under the machinery product category via a 4.2% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 3.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -47.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -35.7%), organic chemicals (down -35.2%), iron and steel as materials (down -30.4%), ships and boats (down -24.8%) and plastics as a material (down -22.3%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $10.7 billion or 7.5% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -31.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.1% of Indonesia’s imports from Japan.

Machinery: $2.7 billion
Iron and steel: $1.118 billion
Vehicles: $1.114 billion
Electronic equipment: $1 billion
Plastics: $514.6 million
Iron or steel products: $509.6 million
Rubber: $425.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $359.1 million
Other chemical goods: $295.1 million
Organic chemicals: $277.4 million
Ships, boats: $206.1 million
Copper: $204.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $178.2 million
Inorganic chemicals: $156 million
Man-made staple fibers: $126.8 million

The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Japan under the ships and boats product category via a 48.8% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 15.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -52.9%), machinery (down -37.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -37.8%), electronic equipment (down -30.7%), copper (down -26.7%) then products made from iron or steel (down -22.6%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Indonesia amounted to $8.6 billion or 6.1% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.1% of Indonesia’s imports from America.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.2 billion
Machinery: $1 billion
Oil seed: $912.7 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $553.5 million
Cereals: $378.1 million
Electronic equipment: $370.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $363.8 million
Plastics: $349.8 million
Woodpulp: $330.5 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $321.5 million
Other chemical goods: $283.7 million
Cotton: $267.3 million
Organic chemicals: $186.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $171.1 million
Inorganic chemicals: $155.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from the United States under the dairy, eggs and honey product category via a 60.5% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 32.2%), medical or technical equipment (up 25%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 11.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were inorganic chemicals (down -32.6%), cotton (down -38.9%), woodpulp (down -35%), plastics as a material (down -15.2%), machinery (down -11.6%) and oil seed (down -9.5%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Russia amounted to $6.9 billion or 4.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.5% of Indonesia’s imports from Malaysia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $2.2 billion
Machinery: $809.9 million
Electronic equipment: $665.9 million
Plastics: $610.5 million
Organic chemicals: $442.1 million
Iron and steel: $256.8 million
Other chemical goods: $179.4 million
Other food preparations: $113.3 million
Iron or steel products: $100.6 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $93.6 million
Rubber: $92.2 million
Aluminum: $89.9 million
Vehicles: $88.2 million
Ships, boats: $81.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $71.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Malaysia under the ships and boats product category via a 74.6% gain in revenue then electronic equipment (up 19.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -56.2%), vehicles (down -35.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -34.9%), plastics as a material (down -24.3%), aluminum (down -24%) and organic chemicals (down -18.8%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $6.8 billion or 4.8% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -18.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.5% of Indonesia’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $900.8 million
Machinery: $900.1 million
Iron and steel: $663.5 million
Plastics: $642.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $431.9 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $317.5 million
Other chemical goods: $289.2 million
Rubber: $233.6 million
Iron or steel products: $233.6 million
Organic chemicals: $190 million
Ships, boats: $155.9 million
Man-made filaments: $125.4 million
Paper: $123.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $119.6 million
Inorganic chemicals: $115.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from South Korea under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 140.8% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 87.6%), products made from iron or steel (up 55.2%) and medical or technical equipment (up 23.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -63.2%), man-made filaments (down -35%), paper (down -26.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -26.8%), inorganic chemicals (down -23.1%) then knitted or crocheted fabric (down -21.7%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $6.5 billion or 4.6% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -31.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.9% of Indonesia’s imports from Thailand.

Machinery: $1.1 billion
Plastics: $929.6 million
Vehicles: $829.1 million
Sugar: $713.1 million
Electronic equipment: $453.8 million
Organic chemicals: $300.6 million
Rubber: $158.7 million
Paper: $114.3 million
Iron or steel products: $110.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $88.8 million
Copper: $88.8 million
Iron and steel: $86.6 million
Modified starches, enzymes: $84.3 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $79 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $76.7 million

The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Thailand under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 9.1% gain in revenue and food waste or animal fodder (up 7.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -47.5%), organic chemicals (down -40.6%), sugar (down -39.3%), iron and steel as materials (down -36%), products made from iron or steel (down -33.8%) then machinery (down -33.6%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Australia

In 2020, Australia’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $4.6 billion or 3.3% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -15.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.4% of Indonesia’s imports from Australia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.1 billion
Ores, slag, ash: $453.1 million
Live animals: $435.2 million
Sugar: $434.2 million
Meat: $304.1 million
Cereals: $241.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $205 million
Inorganic chemicals: $143.6 million
Machinery: $138 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $114.1 million
Iron and steel: $101.8 million
Fruits, nuts: $97.8 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $90.9 million
Aluminum: $73.2 million
Zinc: $71 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Australia under the gems and precious metals product category via a 241.2% gain in revenue, sugar (up 124%) then ores, slag and ash (up 25.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -68.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -43.1%), zinc (down -36%), inorganic chemicals (down -32%), mineral fuels including oil (down -30.5%) and machinery (down -30.2%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $3.8 billion or 2.7% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78% of Indonesia’s imports from India.

Organic chemicals: $475.3 million
Iron and steel: $424.3 million
Machinery: $364.3 million
Oil seed: $275.2 million
Meat: $263.6 million
Sugar: $241.6 million
Vehicles: $176.1 million
Electronic equipment: $116.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $114 million
Cotton: $102.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $85.3 million
Other chemical goods: $81.7 million
Plastics: $79 million
Ceramic products: $72.9 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $66.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from India under the sugar product category via a 3,854% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 112.7%), iron and steel as materials (up 72.6%), cotton (up 46.9%), oil seed (up 29.1%) and ceramic products (up 11%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -56.9%), machinery (down -42.4%), plastics (down -35.6%), electronic equipment (down -29.1%), organic chemicals (down -17.1%) and meat (down -14.9%).

Indonesia’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to Indonesia amounted to $3.6 billion or 2.6% of overall Indonesian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.9% of Indonesia’s imports from Taiwan.

Electronic equipment: $1.4 billion
Machinery: $493.1 million
Plastics: $241.9 million
Iron and steel: $202.8 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $135 million
Man-made filaments: $127.8 million
Vehicles: $72.6 million
Other chemical goods: $71.3 million
Organic chemicals: $68.8 million
Coated textile fabric: $57.6 million
Inorganic chemicals: $48.4 million
Rubber: $46.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $45.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $43.6 million
Aluminum: $43.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Indonesian imports from Taiwan under the electronic equipment product category via a 70.2% gain in revenue, aluminum (up 23.6%), medical or technical equipment (up 23.2%) and vehicles (up 16%).

Posting the severest declines among Indonesia’s top 15 imported products were coated textile fabric (down -36.4%), organic chemicals (down -35.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -31.4%), inorganic chemicals (down -31.1%), machinery (down -26.2%) and plastics as a materials (down -21.7%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Indonesia, Borders of Indonesia

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Indonesia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries