Indonesia's merchandise exports totalled US$15.3bn in November 2010, a rise of 42.3% year on year, representing the fastest pace of growth since April. During the first 11 months of the year exports were up by an average of 38.1% year on year, at US$140.7bn. Exports of oil and gas recorded especially strong growth, rising by 49.5% in the 11-month period to US$24.7bn. Non-oil and gas exports were up by 33.8%, at US$115.9bn. A 36.2% rise in exports of mineral products, to US$16.9bn, was one of the main contributors to the expansion of this category of exports. So too were exports of animal and vegetable fats and oils, including palm oil, which were up by 40.2%, at US$14.2bn. Imports rose by 48.3% in November and by an average of 43.5% in the first 11 months of the year. Overall, Indonesia's merchandise trade surplus rose to US$18.1bn in January-November 2010, from US$16.6bn in the year-earlier period.