April surplus is above 3.3 bln forecast, below March39;s 4.6 bln
Exports 1.7 yy, vs poll39;s 4.6
Imports 4.6 yy, vs poll39;s 8.7

JAKARTA, May 15 Reuters Indonesia posted a slightly biggerthanexpected trade surplus in April of 3.56 billion, as the country saw smallerthanestimated imports, statistics bureau data showed on Wednesday.

A Reuters poll of economists had expected a surplus of 3.30 billion. The March surplus was upwardly revised to 4.58 billion.

Southeast Asia39;s largest economy has been reporting a merchandise trade surplus every month in the past four years, but the surplus has been narrowing recently amid weaker exports.

Exports from the resourcerich country have been hurt for more than a year by declining commodity prices and weakening global trade.

In April, exports rose 1.72 from a year earlier to 19.62 billion, below the 4.57 expected by economists polled by Reuters. Despite coming in below forecast, April39;s export expansion was Indonesia39;s first in 11 months.

The value of coal shipments fell an annual 19.26 in April to 2.61 billion, even though export volumes rose, due to the impact of falling global coal prices. Coal is Indonesia39;s biggest export.

Imports rose 4.62 to 16.06 billion, compared with economists39; prediction of an 8.69 annual increase.

The April trade data reinforced Bank Permata economist Josua Pardede39;s expectation that Indonesia will continue to see its trade surplus declining and current account deficit widening but…