Export down 1.06% in October: BPS<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Exports declined by 1.06 percent in October from the previous
\nmonth, mainly because of a 11.5 percent decline in oil and gas
\nexport, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The agency reported that exports in October reached US$4.99
\nbillion, down from $5.04 billion in September, bringing the ten-
\nmonth total to $50.73 billion.<\/p>\n
Total exports during the January-October period, however,
\nincreased by 6 percent compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n
\"The drop in the oil and gas export to $1.02 billion from
\n$1.59 billion in September triggered the decline in our overall
\nexport performance,\" said BPS chairperson Sudarti Soerbakti.<\/p>\n
According to the agency's report, crude oil export in October
\ndropped by 6.6 percent to $447 million, oil products plunged by
\n38.14 percent to $74.2 million and natural gas fell by 9.98
\npercent to $503 billion.<\/p>\n
Sudarti, however, was optimistic that the government's 2003
\nexport target of $60 billion was still attainable, as an increase
\nin non-oil and gas exports could offset the decline in oil and
\ngas exports.<\/p>\n
Non-oil and gas exports in October rose by 2.05 percent to
\n$3.96 billion from $3.88 billion in September, with paper and
\ncardboard contributing the largest increase, from $63.7 million
\nto $1.73 billion.<\/p>\n
Wood products also contributed to the growth with a jump in
\nexport value of $42.6 million to $2.60 billion, followed by
\nfootwear which filed a surge of $37.2 million to $1.05 billion.<\/p>\n
Non-oil and gas exports in the first 10 months posted $39.31
\nbillion, a slight increase from the $38.02 billion posted in the
\nsame period last year.<\/p>\n
\"If our non-oil and gas exports keep improving in November and
\nDecember, I am optimistic that we can meet the export target by
\nthe end of the year,\" said Sudarti.<\/p>\n
Exports -- while only contributing less than 10 percent of the
\ngross domestic product (GDP) -- remains a key measure of the pace
\nof economic recovery.<\/p>\n
The country's export performance has started to recover,
\nalbeit modestly, from a setback last year.<\/p>\n
During the first 10 months of this year, the U.S. remained
\nIndonesia's largest export destination, although non-oil and gas
\nexports to the U.S. declined to $5.97 billion from $6.16 billion
\nin the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Trailing closely as the second- and third largest export
\ndestination are Japan and Singapore, respectively. While non-oil
\nand gas exports to Japan rose to $5.54 billion from $5.32 billion
\nlast year, exports to Singapore was slightly lower at $3.93
\nbillion from $4.04 billion in 2002.<\/p>\n
The report also showed that the stronger export performance,
\ncoupled with a drop in imports to $2.75 billion in October from
\n$2.79 billion in September, pushed the trade surplus to $2.24
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
Imports in the first 10 months rose by 5.84 percent to $26.87
\nbillion from $25.39 billion a year earlier, with non-oil and gas
\nimports rising 2.52 percent to $20.57 billion.<\/p>\n
Top 10 non-oil and gas exports (in billions\/US$)<\/p>\n
Goods Jan-Oct Jan-Oct<\/p>\n
2002 2003<\/p>\n
1. Electrical machinery\/equipment 5.24 5.10<\/p>\n
2. Wood products 2.76 2.60<\/p>\n
3. Mechanical equipment\/machinery 2.58 2.32<\/p>\n
4. Metal ores\/powder 1.51 1.88<\/p>\n
5. Paper\/cardboard 1.82 1.73<\/p>\n
6. Rubber\/rubber products 1.31 1.65<\/p>\n
7. Hydrocarbon fuels 1.48 1.61<\/p>\n
8. Household goods\/equipment 1.29 1.34<\/p>\n
9. Footwear 1.02 1.05<\/p>\n
10. Organic chemicals .904 .963<\/p>\n
Source: BPS<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/export-down-106-in-october-bps-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }