JAKARTA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian exports expanded 9.01 percent to 14.47 billion U.S. dollars in April from a year ago supported by non-oil and gas shipment overseas, the national statistics bureau announced here on Tuesday.

Export of non-oil and gas in April touched a 8.55 percent annual growth, head of the bureau Kecuk Suhariyanto said.

The cumulative of Indonesia's export in the first four months posted a 8.77 percent growth to 58.74 billion U.S. dollars from a year ago, he said.

Annual growth of non-oil and gas export from January to April touched a 9.27 percent to 53.50 billion U.S. dollars, Suhariyanto said.

China, followed by the United States, Japan and the European Union is the largest consumer of Indonesian products in April.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, is the world's largest exporter and producer of crude palm oil and thermal coal, and the world's biggest exporter of rubber and cocoa, as well as home to the world's second largest copper mine.

Meanwhile, the country's import grew 34.68 percent to 16.09 billion U.S. dollars in April from a year earlier, leading to trade a deficit of 1.62 billion U.S. dollars in April, compared with a revised surplus of 1.12 billion U.S. dollars in March.

Non-oil and gas import also expanded 33.69 percent to 13.77 billion U.S. dollars in April on yearly basis.

Import of engines and electrical devices posted the biggest portion in April with total values of 315.3 million U.S. dollars.

Import of raw materials and capital goods rose 21.86 percent and 31.04 percent from January to April with shipment of consumption goods rising 26.09 percent.

China, followed by Japan, Thailand and the European Union is the biggest supplier of imported non-oil and gas products to Indonesia in the first four months of 2018, according to Suhariyanto.