Exports rise in April

Exports increased in April by 2.7 percent from the previous month as increasing demand for non-oil and gas commodities offset a decline in oil and gas exports, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported on Tuesday.

In its monthly report, the BPS said that exports in April stood at US$5.21 billion, up from the $5.06 billion posted in March -- supported by a 3.9 percent rise in non-oil and gas exports.

The increase in non-oil and gas exports from $3.87 billion in March to $4.02 billion in April may have had something to do with robust global demand in line with the improving world economy, said BPS chief Soedarti Surbakti.

"That offset a 1.4 percent decline in oil and gas exports from $1.20 billion to $1.18 billion," she added.

The BPS also reported a rise in imports to $3.16 billion in April from $3.13 billion the month before, with non-oil and gas imports increasing by 5.2 percent to $2.29 billion from $2.18 billion.

Oil and gas imports fell by close to 9 percent to $863.8 million from $949.2 million the previous month. -- JP