Press Release, 1 September 2025

Positive Performance of Sumatera Utara’s Foreign Trade Balance

Sumatera Utara Province recorded export values amounting to US$7,048.82 million during January–July 2025. This figure increased by 21.99 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Export values in July 2025 also rose compared to July 2024, from US$979.66 million to US$1,230.45 million, or an increase of 25.60 percent.

The commodity group with the largest export contribution in January–July 2025 was animal and vegetable fats & oils, accounting for 41.12 percent (US$2,898.77 million), followed by various chemical products with a contribution of 15.00 percent (US$1,057.63 million). By destination country, China recorded the highest export value during January–July 2025 at US$1,119.43 million, followed by the United States at US$907.44 million and India at US$523.43 million, with these three countries contributing a combined 36.18 percent.

On the import side, the CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) import value through Sumatera Utara in January–July 2025 amounted to US$3,138.11 million, down by 5.43 percent compared to US$3,318.44 million in January–July 2024. When compared to imports in July 2025 and July 2024, imports decreased by 13.89 percent.

By usage category, consumer goods imports fell by -31.50 percent during January–July 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Similarly, intermediate goods declined by -6.04 percent. Capital goods were the only group to increase, rising by 41.47 percent.

By main commodity group, the largest decline in imports during January–July 2025 compared to 2024 was in mineral fuels at US$143.67 million (-22.49%), followed by residues & waste from the food industries at US$59.29 million (-21.84%). The import group with the largest increase was machinery/mechanical appliances, up by US$61.41 million (19.39%).

China remained the largest country of origin for imports, with a value of US$911.45 million or 29.04 percent of Sumatera Utara’s total imports in January–July 2025. The next largest sources were Malaysia (US$448.62 million or 14.30%) and Singapore (US$319.66 million or 10.19%).

Overall, Sumatera Utara’s foreign trade balance in July 2025 recorded a surplus of US$743.31 million. Compared to July 2024, when the surplus stood at US$413.93 million, this represents an increase of 79.58 percent. For the cumulative period January–July 2025, Sumatera Utara achieved a trade surplus of US$3,910.72 million. Surpluses with major trade partners during January–July 2025 were recorded at US$709.74 million with the United States, US$375.01 million with India, and US$319.42 million with Japan. The largest trade deficits occurred with Australia (US$121.38 million), Malaysia (US$131.13 million), and Singapore (US$253.95 million).

Inflation in August 2025

BPS-Statistics Sumatera Utara Province reported that in August 2025, inflation stood at 1.37 percent (m-to-m). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 108.90 in July 2025 to 110.39 in August 2025. This condition differed from August 2024, which recorded a deflation of 0.14 percent (m-to-m). On a year-on-year basis, inflation was 4.42 percent, while calendar year inflation reached 2.93 percent.

The expenditure group contributing most to monthly inflation was food, beverages, and tobacco, with 3.67 percent inflation and a contribution of 1.33 percentage points. The education group recorded inflation of 1.34 percent, contributing 0.07 percentage points, while personal care and other services rose 0.57 percent, contributing 0.04 percentage points.

The main commodities driving m-to-m inflation were red chili, shallots, bird’s eye chili, broiler chicken meat, round scad, higher education tuition, rice, green chili, chicken eggs, and Indian mackerel/short-bodied mackerel.

In August 2025, all regencies/municipalities with CPI surveys in Sumatera Utara experienced inflation. The highest m-to-m inflation occurred in Labuhanbatu Regency (2.09 percent), while the lowest was in Padangsidimpuan Municipality (0.31 percent). On a y-o-y basis, Deli Serdang Regency recorded the highest inflation at 5.79 percent, while Padangsidimpuan Municipality recorded the lowest at 3.40 percent.

Farmer’s Terms of Trade (NTP) Increased

BPS-Statistics of Sumatera Utara Province also recorded the Farmer’s Terms of Trade (NTP) in August 2025 at 144.46, up 3.35 percent compared to July 2025. This increase was due to the 4.45 percent rise in the price index received by farmers (It), while the price index paid by farmers (Ib) increased by 1.06 percent.

The August 2025 increase in NTP was driven by higher NTP in two subsectors: Horticulture (up 8.48 percent) and Smallholder Plantation Crops (up 4.74 percent). Meanwhile, NTP in three subsectors declined: Food Crops (-0.19 percent), Livestock (-0.43 percent), and Fisheries (-0.22 percent).

Increase in Foreign Tourist Arrivals

Foreign tourist arrivals to Sumatera Utara in July 2025 totaled 28.55 thousand visits, up 11.78 percent compared to June 2025 (25.54 thousand). Cumulatively, January–July 2025 recorded 163.72 thousand visits, an increase of 15.31 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

In July 2025, the majority of foreign visitors came from Malaysia (41.00 percent), followed by the Netherlands (8.57 percent), and France (4.36 percent).

The hotel Room Occupancy Rate (ROR) in Sumatera Utara reached 32.11 percent in July 2025, up 0.37 points compared to June 2025 (31.74 percent). However, on a y-o-y basis, hotel occupancy dropped by 4.13 points compared to June 2024 (36.24 percent). For star-rated hotels, ROR averaged 43.50 percent in July 2025, down from 49.05 percent a year earlier. Meanwhile, non-star hotels recorded a decline of 0.55 points, from 27.61 percent in July 2024 to 25.53 percent in July 2025.

Increase in Domestic Air and Sea Passengers

The number of domestic passengers arriving in Sumatera Utara through Kualanamu International Airport in July 2025 increased by 6.42 percent (m-to-m), from 193,065 in June to 205,466 in July 2025. Departing domestic passengers in July 2025 also rose by 11.70 percent (m-to-m), reaching 211,247 compared to 189,117 in June 2025. For sea transportation, the number of inter-island (domestic) passengers departing from Belawan Port in July 2025 reached 18,453, up 53.81 percent (m-to-m) compared to 11,997 in June 2025. Arriving passengers also increased by 44.58 percent (m-to-m), from 12,248 in June 2025 to 17,708 in July 2025.

Media Contact

Derma Waruwu

BPS-Statistics Sumatera Utara Province

[email protected]