July exports seen 29.73 yy, vs June39;s 40.68
July imports seen 37.30 yy, vs June39;s 21.98
July trade surplus f39;cast at 3.93 billion, vs June39;s 5.09 bln
Trade data due at 0400 GMT on Monday, Aug 15

JAKARTA, Aug 12 Reuters Indonesia39;s trade surplus may have narrowed to 3.93 billion last month due to weakening export performance as global trade activity slows, according to economists polled by Reuters.

Southeast Asia39;s biggest economy booked a largerthanexpected trade surplus of 5.09 billion in June on the back of palm oil exports resuming after a threeweek ban was lifted in May.

The median forecast of 12 analysts in the poll was for exports to show growth of 29.73 on a yearly basis in July, down from June39;s 40.68.

July imports were seen rising 37.30 on an annual basis, compared with June39;s 21.98 increase.

Bank Mandiri economist Faisal Rachman, who estimated July39;s surplus at 3.85 billion, said export performance weakened amid slowing global trade activity and with the drop in coal and crude palm oil prices from a month earlier.

Commodity prices continue to support export performance, yet the fear of global recession is a downward pressure on the prices, he said, adding that imports have caught up with exports thanks to a recovering domestic economy.

Polling by Devayani Sathyan and Arsh Mogre in Bengaluru; Writing by Stefanno Sulaiman in Jakarta; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor

Source Reuters