Indonesia’s energy imports driving current-account gap, central bank chief says
The rupiah fell 0.39% to Rp18,110 per US dollar on 26 October, its weakest closing level since early June 2026.
Indonesia’s dependence on energy imports is the main factor behind its widening current-account deficit and resulting currency pressure, Bank Indonesia Governor Destry Damayanti said on 26 October. Addressing the Danantara Technology Innovation Investment Forum (DTIIF) 2026 in Jakarta, she put the second-quarter current-account shortfall at more than 3%.
Destry said government efforts to address the problem included energy-mix measures such as B50 and E50, which she said would lower energy imports. She identified promoting exports and substituting imports as key responses to the deficit and the pressure it places on the rupiah.
CNBC Indonesia reported that the balance-of-payments deficit reached US$12.49 billion in the second quarter of 2026, equivalent to 3.34% of gross domestic product. The first-quarter shortfall was US$3.58 billion, or 0.97% of GDP.
According to Refinitiv data, the rupiah finished 26 October at Rp18,110 per US dollar, a decline of 0.39% against its 23 October close of Rp18,040. It began the session at Rp18,050 and weakened as far as Rp18,130 before partially recovering. The closing rate was its weakest since early June 2026.
At 15:00 Western Indonesia Time, the US dollar index stood at 101.802, down 0.01%. The index measures the dollar against six major currencies.
