RI cocoa output estimated to fall to 200,000 tons<\/p>\n
HAMBURG (Reuter): Indonesia's 1995 cocoa crop should be just
\nbelow 200,000 tons after 271,127 tons in 1994, Minister of
\nAgriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah said.<\/p>\n
Exports in 1995 should be 200,000-220,000 tons after 231,639
\ntons previously, he told Reuters during a visit. He did not give
\ncampaign months.<\/p>\n
The minister said the effect of drought had curtailed volumes
\nwhich analysts say contributes to global market tightness.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the world's fourth largest cocoa producer.<\/p>\n
Asked about the impact of the pod borer pest which is
\nprevalent in a number of regions, he said, \"We are watching the
\ndisease very closely and we are working together with farmers to
\ncontrol it.\"<\/p>\n
\"It has not yet affected the main producing areas and we're
\ntaking steps to stop it from spreading.\"<\/p>\n
Talking about coffee, he said that Indonesia's coffee crop in
\n1995 was seen in a 420,000-430,000 ton range after 446,463 tons
\nin 1994 and 438,868 tons in 1993.<\/p>\n
Exports were expected in a 270,000-280,000 ton range.<\/p>\n
Exports last year were 289,303 tons and 1993's 349,000 tons,
\nhe said. He did not give crop year details.<\/p>\n
He said droughts and excessive rains caused harvest shortfalls
\nand the weather patterns presented long-term problems for
\nIndonesia's crop which is mostly robustas.<\/p>\n
Referring to palm oil, Sjarifudin said Indonesia's ability to
\nsupply global palm oil markets would be maintained and expanded
\nalthough population growth meant domestic markets absorbed
\nincreasing volumes.<\/p>\n
It would produce well above four million tons this year and as
\nsoon as the four million ton mark was reached, more would be
\nfreed for exports, he added.<\/p>\n
He said this compared with exactly four million tons output
\nlast year but declined to give a date when the level would be
\nreached.<\/p>\n
Indonesian government officials in June gave a 4.56 million
\nton forecast for 1995 after 4.0 million in 1994 and commodities
\nregulator BULOG in that month put expected 1995 exports at two
\nmillion tons after 1.66 million in 1994.<\/p>\n
The minister said world market prices, although not as high as
\nseveral months ago, were still very good and offered good
\nproduction prospects.<\/p>\n
Neighboring Malaysia produced closer to six million tons but
\nhad a low population and was able to export far more. He put
\nIndonesia's population close to 200 million and Malaysia's at 18
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The minister was visiting Hamburg to explain plans to
\nrestructure state-run plantations (PTPs) to European customers.<\/p>\n
PTPs covered 45 percent of palm oil production. Roughly 65
\npercent of all palm oil went into the domestic market, he said.<\/p>\n
A rubber trader at the meeting said rubber statistics showed
\nthe Indonesian area had not increased this year as a result of
\nmore efforts going into palm oil expansions while Malaysia and
\nThailand on the other hand had expanded rubber acreage.<\/p>\n
Sjarifudin confirmed palm oil expansion was a key strategic
\ngoal but smallholder assistance programs aimed to support rubber
\ntoo.<\/p>",
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