Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste

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Timor-Leste-Indonesia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $348.40M total volume •Timor-Leste deficit: $332.14M

Timor-LesteIndonesia

$8.13M

Exports (2023)

IndonesiaTimor-Leste

$340.27M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$332.14M

Deficit for Timor-Leste

Total Trade

$348.40M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia. Green line shows exports from Timor-Leste, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Timor-Leste-Indonesia commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Timor-LesteIndonesia Exports

$8.13M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
72.0% top product
1Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$5.86M
72.0% of exports
2Spices: vanilla, neither crushed nor ground
$580,287
7.1% of exports
3Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits: n.e.c. in heading no. 1207, whether or not broken
$420,246
5.2% of exports
4Copra
$357,319
4.4% of exports
5Spices: cloves (whole fruit, cloves and stems), neither crushed nor ground
$339,678
4.2% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Timor-Leste's export portfolio to Indonesia demonstrates strategic specialization, with coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

IndonesiaTimor-Leste Imports

$340.27M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
5.2% concentration
1Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$17.76M
5.2% of imports
2Food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise prepared
$16.54M
4.9% of imports
3Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured
$14.37M
4.2% of imports
4Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars
$13.39M
3.9% of imports
5Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1
$11.75M
3.5% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Timor-Leste's import pattern from Indonesia reveals significant dependencyin vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Timor-Leste demonstrates competitive strength in exportingcoffee: not roasted or decaffeinated to Indonesia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $348.40M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Timor-Leste-Indonesia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $348.40 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Timor-Leste maintains a deficit of $332.14 million
  • Export Focus: Timor-Leste's primary exports include coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated, spices: vanilla, neither crushed nor ground, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits: n.e.c. in heading no. 1207, whether or not broken
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Indonesia include vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, food preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise prepared, cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $348.40M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Timor-Leste leveraging its comparative advantages in coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Timor-Leste's specialization in coffee: not roasted or decaffeinatedcomplements Indonesia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $348.40M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $348.40M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $348.40 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated and vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Timor-Leste's trade deficit of $332.14 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in spices: vanilla, neither crushed nor ground present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia represents a total trade volume of $348.40 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Timor-Leste, with imports exceeding exportsby $332.14 million.

Export Strengths

Timor-Leste's exports to Indonesia total $8.13 million, with competitive advantages in coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated, representing $5.86M or72.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Indonesia amount to $340.27 million, highlighting economic interdependence in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, with Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified comprising5.2% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Timor-Leste's strategic sourcing from Indonesia. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Timor-Leste and Indonesia in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023