JAKARTA (Jan 13): Indonesia's exports and imports likely rose for a third consecutive month in December from a year earlier, a Reuters poll showed.
Twelve analysts in the poll gave a median forecast of 13.27% for export growth in December on an annual basis, down from November's 21.34% pace.
The pace of import gains was also seen slowing to 3.50% in December, from 9.88% in November.
The trade balance was forecast to show a surplus of US$840 million, near the US$838 million seen in the previous month.
Singapore-based DBS' economist Gundy Cahyadi said: "we may see a pullback in December" after better-than-expected November data.
"We have seen a bottoming out of imports of capital goods towards end-2016. If this trend were to sustain, it supports our view that investment growth is set to pick up in 2017. This will be a positive boost for the economy," he added.