Bangka Belitung Islands Sustains Strong Trade Surplus Performance

Key Highlights:

1. Seven-month trade surplus jumps to US$1.117 billion, up 55.56% year-on-year
2. Tin exports drive 74.88% growth as China demand accelerates
3. Tourism rebounds strongly with 58.70% visitor increase
4. Agricultural sector posts improved profitability metrics

PANGKAL PINANG, Indonesia (September 1, 2025) – The Bangka Belitung Islands Province maintained robust trade performance with a merchandise trade surplus of US$145.85 million in July 2025, representing a 10.95% year-on-year increase.

The province's cumulative trade surplus for January-July 2025 reached US$1.117 billion, marking a substantial 55.56% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to BPS Statistics Indonesia's Provincial Office of Bangka Belitung Islands.

TIN EXPORTS DRIVE STRONG TRADE PERFORMANCE

Export revenues totaled US$1,121.53 billion during the seven-month period, significantly outpacing imports of US$4.49 million. Tin exports dominated the trade portfolio at US$895.61 million, while non-tin exports contributed US$225.92 million.

Total export value surged 54.65% year-on-year, driven by a 74.88% increase in tin exports and 6.03% growth in non-tin commodities.

Export Portfolio Breakdown (January-July 2025):

1. Tin: 79.86% (US$895.61 million)
2. Animal and vegetable fats/oils: 11.88%
3. Coffee, tea and spices: 2.23%

Primary Export Markets

China remained the top buyer of Bangka Belitung's tin at US$231.31 million (25.83%), followed by Singapore (US$199.14 million, 22.23%) and South Korea (US$121.75 million, 13.59%). These three markets absorbed 61.65% of the province's tin exports.

For non-tin exports, Malaysia led with US$57.89 million (25.62%), followed by China at US$30.26 million (13.39%) and Myanmar at US$24.55 million (10.87%). Palm oil and its derivatives dominated non-tin exports at US$88.64 million.

Import Activity Moderates

Import dependency remains minimal at US$4.49 million—down 8.25% from 2024. Vietnam supplied US$1.90 million in mineral fuels, while Malaysia and China provided ships and floating structures totaling US$2.59 million combined.

CONSUMER PRICES FALL AS FOOD COSTS EASE

Bangka Belitung recorded 0.46% month-on-month deflation in August 2025, with the consumer price index dropping to 105.17 from July's 105.66. This marked a reversal from July's 0.65% monthly inflation. Despite the monthly price decline, annual inflation remained at 1.34% year-on-year, with year-to-date inflation at 0.88%.

Food, beverages, and tobacco led monthly deflation at -0.91% (contributing -0.33 percentage points), followed by transportation at -1.08% (-0.13 pp) and education at -0.93% (-0.03 pp).

Airfares, chicken prices and chili peppers were the main drivers of August's price drops.

Food Costs Remain the Main Driver of Annual Inflation

Annual inflation (August 2025) continues to be driven by food costs, with the food, beverages and tobacco category contributing 1.13 percentage points. Shallots, gold jewelry and rice were the primary inflationary pressures.

Regional Inflation Conditions

Regionally, Tanjung Pandan experienced the steepest monthly deflation at -1.11%, while West Bangka was the only region recording monthly inflation at 0.05%.

Monthly changes (August 2025):

1. Tanjung Pandan: -1.11% (sharpest deflation)
2. East Belitung: -0.58%
3. Pangkal Pinang: -0.49%
4. West Bangka: +0.05% (sole region with inflation)

For annual rates, East Belitung posted the highest inflation at 2.18%, while Tanjung Pandan was the sole region in deflation at -0.13%.

Annual changes (August 2025):

1. East Belitung: +2.18% (highest)
2. West Bangka: +1.75%
3. Pangkal Pinang: +1.32%
4. Tanjung Pandan: -0.13% (deflation)

AGRICULTURAL PROFITABILITY IMPROVES

Farmers' Terms of Trade climbed 1.98% to 153.83 in August, indicating improved agricultural profitability as commodity prices outpaced input costs. The gain, driven by a 2.06% increase in farm-gate prices versus just 0.08% higher input costs, suggests rural economic resilience.

Smallholder plantation crops showed the strongest performance with a 2.74% monthly gain in terms of trade.

The province's Farmers' Business Terms of Trade—which factors in production and investment costs—also rose 1.97% to 152.26 in August.

Among Sumatra's provinces, Bangka Belitung ranked fourth in agricultural terms of trade behind Bengkulu (201.80), Riau (188.96) and Jambi (170.94).

TOURISM RECOVERY ACCELERATES

Domestic tourist arrivals surged 58.70% to 398,320 visits in July 2025, bringing seven-month totals to 2.66 million – up 52.87% year-on-year.

Pangkal Pinang city attracted the most visitors with 110,486 arrivals, followed by Bangka regency (90,662) and Central Bangka regency (68,588). These three destinations captured 67.72% of total domestic tourist visits.

Hotel occupancy improved across the province, with 54,430 guests staying in July 2025—up 4.38% from June 2025. Star-rated hotels continued to dominate the market, hosting 40,337 guests, while non-star properties accommodated 14,093.

Star-rated properties recorded 27.68% occupancy (up 2.17 percentage points month-on-month), while non-star hotels achieved 15.86% occupancy (up 0.23 pp). Central Bangka regency led occupancy rates for both star-rated hotels (33.80%) and budget properties (39.22%).

TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITY SOFTENS

Both sea and air passenger traffic declined in July 2025. Sea transport departures fell 1.44% to 45.31 thousand passengers, while arrivals dropped 5.83% to 46.19 thousand passengers compared with July 2024.

Air transport showed steeper declines, with departures down 6.60% to 69.14 thousand passengers and arrivals falling 6.21% to 77.61 thousand passengers year-on-year.

Bangka Belitung Islands Province, located off Sumatra's eastern coast, is Indonesia's primary tin-producing region and an emerging tourism destination known for its white-sand beaches and distinctive granite rock formations.

About BPS-Statistics Indonesia – Provincial Office of Bangka Belitung Islands

BPS-Statistics Indonesia Provincial Office of Bangka Belitung Islands serves as the authoritative source for economic and social statistics covering Bangka Belitung Islands Province. The office supports evidence-based policymaking and provides critical data for business and investment decisions in Indonesia's tin-producing region.

Media Contact:

Eka R. Pattinama

Public Relations and Protocols Team

BPS-Statistics Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Province

Email: [email protected]

Link to files:

https://drive.bps.go.id/s/5rd2XFrFRZPAamM