Outlying provinces of the Riau Islands and North Maluku are emerging as bright spots in the country’s export landscape, using their comparative advantages to strengthen regional economies. Together, the two regions show how trade can shift local growth trajectories—contributing as much as 7% to provincial gross domestic product (GRDP).

A review of trade balances and GRDP contributions from 2020 to 2024 reveals diverging dynamics across Indonesia. Traditional export powerhouses—North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and the Riau Islands—have all expanded their trade surpluses. North Maluku stands out, posting one of the sharpest increases in export value nationwide.

The Riau Islands grew its trade balance by 31% in the first half of 2025. Historically, however, its contribution to GRDP remains relatively small at around 2% (2024). This contrasts with North Maluku, where the trade balance accounts for about 7% of total GRDP—underscoring the outsized role exports play in shaping GRDP in several provinces, particularly outside Java.

From January–June 2025, non-oil and gas exports from the Riau Islands were dominated by machinery and electrical equipment, contributing 49.50% of total non-oil exports with a value of US$5,066.11 million. The main export destinations were Singapore (28.18%) and the United States (25.98%).

Over the same period, North Maluku’s exports were led by three key commodities—iron and steel, nickel, and inorganic chemicals—with a combined value of US$6,775.45 million.

Rising exports in both provinces—each focused on strengthening local flagship commodities—are set to lift regional economies. The two regions illustrate how identifying and reinforcing comparative advantages can generate value-add that contributes meaningfully to GRDP.