Manufacturing Picks Up, Inflation Under Control, Trade Balance Surplus, SEZ Investment Advances

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The following is important information related to the development of the business universe that needs attention today based on the curation of the SUAR Team.

UAR Roundtable Decision - Accelerative & Attractive Special Economic Zones: Boosting Investment and Employment. This event was held on a limited basis and was only attended by invited guests.

Many New Orders, Indonesian Manufacturing Still Growing Positively

The number of new orders has made Indonesia's manufacturing activity grow again with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) at its highest level since February 2025. Referring to the S&P Global report released on Monday (1/12/2025), Indonesia's PMI stood at 53.3 for the November 2025 period, a significant increase from 51.2 in October. This shows that Indonesia's manufacturing activity has returned to growth and entered the expansion zone.

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Adequate Food Stocks Successfully Curb Annual Inflation

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) announced that inflation in November 2025 slowed from 2.86% year-on-year (YoY) in October to 2.72% YoY with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 109.22. In addition to the stable gold price, adequate food stocks and deflation in rice prices were the causes of slowing inflation at the end of 2025.

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Despite Reduced Exports, Trade Balance Surplus is Still Brilliant

October 2025 exports were recorded at USD 24.23 billion, down from September 2025 exports of USD 24.67 billion, while October 2025 imports amounted to USD 21.84 billion, up from September's USD 20.33 billion. The trade balance surplus also decreased to USD 2.39 billion in October from September's USD 4.34 billion. However, the export-import performance is still in surplus for the 66th consecutive time since May 2020. The value of Indonesia's exports from January to October 2025 remained up 6.96% year-on-year (YoY) to reach USD 234.03 billion. With imports from January to October 2025 amounting to USD 198.16 billion, the trade balance remains in surplus.

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As Locomotive of Economic Growth, SEZ Investment Reaches Rp 294.4 Trillion

The government's commitment to make Special Economic Zones (SEZs) an engine for driving economic growth and equitable development is starting to show concrete results. The attractiveness of a total of 25 SEZs spread from Sabang to Merauke has proven successful in penetrating a total investment of IDR 294.4 trillion or USD 3.6 billion from 2021 to September 2025.
There are 25 SEZs spread across various regions with a focus on industrial, manufacturing, digital, tourism and health sectors, as well as other services such as maintenance repair overhaul (MRO); including Arun Lhokseumawe SEZ (Aceh), Sei Mangkei SEZ (North Sumatra), Batam Aero Technic SEZ (Riau Islands), Galang Batang SEZ (Riau Islands), Kendal SEZ (Central Java), Gresik SEZ (East Java).

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Sweet Opportunities for Coconut Sugar in the Global Market

The potential value of the global coconut sugar market is estimated at USD 744.2 million in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 1,271.3 million by 2035. Indonesia's coconut sugar export trend also reflects a positive trend, with volumes rising from 917.35 tons (2022) to 7,730.09 tons (2025), an increase of 700% in three years. Not only a jump in volume, but also in nominal value from USD 1.93 million (2022) to USD 15.97 million (2025).
Coconut export volume reached 2,174,712 tons in 2023, which is close to the total production (2,836,200 tons). In 2024, exports reached 1,097,349 tons out of total production of 2,822,118 tons. The large volume of raw coconut exports risks reducing the supply of raw materials needed by the downstream industry, affecting the processing of coconut sugar and other derivative products.

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Brown to Green Conference: Unlocking Enabling Environments for Indonesia to Transition Beyond Coal. The conference, a collaboration between GETI, British Embassy Jakarta, and IESR, will be held online through IESR Indonesia's Zoom and YouTube platforms on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 12:00-16:00 WIB and Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 09:00-17:00 WIB. The event is a response to the rise in hydrometeorological disasters driven by climate change and fossil fuel emissions. Specifically, the event aims to discuss efforts and strategies in creating a conducive environment for Indonesia to make the energy transition from coal to renewable energy. For more information about the event, please visit IESR's Instagram account.

The SCG-designed ESG Symposium 2025 Indonesia will take place on December 2, 2025, from 08:00-13:00 WIB. The main focus will be on the role of decarbonization as the key to achieving sustainable growth in Indonesia. The symposium invites distinguished speakers and aims to be a platform for in-depth discussions that empower participants to understand and take part in solutions, realizing that the future of the earth and sustainability is in our collective hands. The event can be followed online through a live stream on SCG Indonesia's YouTube Channel. Further information can be accessed directly through SCG Indonesia's Instagram social media.