REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, estimated its current-account deficit in the first quarter of the year will be well below 3 percent of gross domestic product, bolstered by recovery in commodity prices, said a senior official at the finance ministry.

The widest measure of the flow of goods, services and money in and out the country is seen at around 2 percent, compared with a deficit of 1.98 percent in the previous quarter and a record of 4.4 percent in the second quarter of 2013.

"In general, we are lucky. Because the February and March, according to my BI colleague, will be a straight (trade) surplus," Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said on Thursday.

The natural resources based country, he added, was boosted by the recent recovery in commodity prices like crude palm oil, coal, processed nickel, as well as stronger manufacturing industry. The G-20 economy has been struggling to push down its current-account deficit to a sustainable level, as imports ramp up to meet demand of its growing middle class consumers.