BPS reports continued upward trend in exports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The upward trend in exports continued in April,
\naccording to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), indicating
\nthat the economy is still recovering.<\/p>\n
Newly appointed BPS chief Soedarti Surbakti said April's
\nexports increased by 0.65 percent to US$4.97 billion compared to
\n$4.94 billion in March.<\/p>\n
\"The increase in April's exports was caused by a 3.98 percent
\nincrease in non-oil and gas exports to $4 billion,\" she said,
\nadding that oil and gas exports declined by 10.92 percent.<\/p>\n
She said the most exported products included machinery and
\nelectronics, wood products and plywood, apparels, paper and
\npackaging.<\/p>\n
BPS said exports in the January-April period totaled $19.10
\nbillion, or a 35.93 percent increase compared to the same period
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's export earnings reached a high level of $4.94
\nbillion in March on the back of a sharp increase in non-oil and
\ngas exports. Exports in March rose by 3.67 percent.<\/p>\n
Soedarti said the government's 4 percent economic growth
\ntarget this year was attainable only in the best possible
\nscenario, while the most pessimistic scenario was 1.5 percent.<\/p>\n
Soedarti's predecessor Sugito Suwito surprised many economists
\nlast month when he said the economy would only grow by 1.5
\npercent this year if the rupiah continued to weaken.<\/p>\n
The rupiah has been under heavy pressure since last month,
\nparticularly amid increasing political uncertainty in the run-up
\nto the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) in August.<\/p>\n
Trade surplus in April dropped to $2.66 billion from $2.8
\nbillion due to higher imports.<\/p>\n
According to BPS, imports in April rose by 2.91 percent to
\n$2.31 billion compared to the previous month.<\/p>\n
It said that non-oil and gas imports increased by 5.38 percent
\nto $1.87 billion, while oil and gas imports fell by 6.33 percent
\nto $443.7 million.<\/p>\n
\"The increase in non-oil and gas imports give a positive
\nsignal toward a recovery in imports, particularly for raw
\nmaterials and capital goods,\" Soedarti said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's production system is heavily dependent on the
\nimport of raw materials.<\/p>\n
BPS said in the January to April period imports reached $8.85
\nbillion or a 15.24 percent increase compared to the same period
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
It said the import of raw materials in the January-March
\nperiod increased by 19.69 percent to $4.99 billion compared to
\nthe same period last year.<\/p>\n
BPS added that the import of capital goods jumped by 21.36
\npercent during the period.<\/p>\n
But BPS said the import of consumers goods in the first three
\nmonths of the year declined by 4.79 percent to $501.1 million.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, BPS also reported that inflation in May rose by
\n0.84 percent from the level in April, sending the year-on-year
\ninflation figure to 1.2 percent.<\/p>\n
The bureau said the rise was primarily caused by the recent
\nincreases in electricity, water and transportation costs.<\/p>\n
Soedarti said inflation for 2000 was likely to be between 5
\npercent and 7 percent depending on whether the planned increase
\nin fuel prices was realized.<\/p>\n
She also said that month-on-month inflation in June would not
\nchange much.<\/p>\n
Many analysts fear that inflation this year will surpass the 5
\npercent-7 percent target due to the weakening of the rupiah
\nagainst the U.S. dollar, which makes the price of imported raw
\nmaterials higher.<\/p>\n
BPS said inflation in April was driven in particular by a 2.47
\npercent increase in the cost of transportation and
\ncommunications.<\/p>\n
It said the cost of education, recreation, and sport had
\nincreased by 0.81 percent, health care by 0.4 percent, clothing
\nby 0.85 percent and the housing index by 1.84 percent.<\/p>\n
But BPS said that the price of food and beverages had declined
\nby 0.03 percent, while processed food and beverages, cigarettes
\nand tobacco had also dropped, by 0.09 percent.(rei)<\/p>",
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