Trade surplus widens as export growth continues<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's trade surplus widened to US$2.70
\nbillion in September from $2.5 billion in August as exports
\nrecorded a consistent growth while imports remained low, at below
\n2 percent during the month, the Bureau of Central Statistics
\n(BPS) reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
BPS chief Soedarti Subakti said exports in September remained
\nstrong, growing by 4.47 percent to US$5.79 billion from $5.54
\nbillion the month before.<\/p>\n
September marked the fourth month in a row that the country's
\nmonthly export level reached above $5 billion.<\/p>\n
\"If export levels in the next three months remain consistent,
\nor at least reaching $5 billion per month, than this year's
\nexport level could hit above $60 billion,\" the agency predicted.<\/p>\n
Soedarti said the cumulative export level from January to
\nSeptember was $46.08 billion, an increase of 31 percent from
\n$35.08 billion in the same period last year.<\/p>\n
In September, nonoil and nongas exports rose by 5.2 percent to
\n$4.45 billion, while oil and gas exports rose by 2.13 percent to
\n$1.33 billion, she said.<\/p>\n
In the nonoil and nongas sector, exports of machines and
\nelectrical appliances made the largest contribution, rising by
\n$69.1 million to $650.6 million<\/p>\n
BPS also recorded strong imports in September, climbing 1.72
\npercent to $3.08 billion from $3.03 billion in the previous
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Soedarti attributed the higher imports entirely on nonoil and
\ngas imports, which rose to $2.46 billion as against $2.37 billion
\nin August<\/p>\n
Whereas oil and gas imports in September dropped by 4.48
\npercent to $627 million compared to $658 million in the previous
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Soedarti said between January and August, imports of raw
\nmaterial rose by 27.58 percent to $15.31 billion compared to the
\nsame period last year.<\/p>\n
In the same period, consumer imports dropped by 2.66 percent
\nto US$1.55 billion compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Deputy chief Kusmadi Saleh said the increased imports of raw
\nmaterial would defer the impact of the recent sharp depreciation
\nof the rupiah against the U.S dollar.<\/p>\n
\"The rupiah's drop will not affect the production process as
\nthere is enough raw material,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
BPS said that higher fuel prices raised the monthly inflation
\nrate in October to 1.16 percent, pushing up the cumulative
\ninflation from January to October to 5.87 percent.<\/p>\n
With the increase, the cumulative inflation rate of the first
\nseven months in the current April-December fiscal year is 4.89
\npercent or 7.97 percent year-on-year.<\/p>\n
The statistics agency said the impact of the average 12
\npercent increase in fuel prices early this month could further
\npush the inflation rate for the whole calender year to 8 percent
\nor 9 percent, compared to the initial projection of between 5
\npercent and 7 percent.<\/p>\n
\"The impact of higher fuel prices can be seen by the 2.43
\npercent increase in the transportation and communication index,\"
\nSoedarti said in a press meeting.<\/p>\n
The transportation index, she said, had contributed 26 percent
\nto October's inflation rate.<\/p>\n
The largest contributor to October's inflation rate was the
\nrise in prices of processed food, beverage, cigarettes and
\ntobacco index, which made up 36 percent.<\/p>\n
Next was the housing index with a 33 percent contribution.<\/p>\n
\"But the October inflation rate is still moderate,\" deputy
\nchief Kusmadi Saleh explained.<\/p>\n
He said falling rice prices, which previously provided the
\nlargest contribution to the inflation rate, had helped weaken the
\nsteam of higher fuel prices on the inflation rate.(bkm)<\/p>",
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