Exports up by 21% in first nine months of year
Exports up by 21% in first nine months of year
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported on Tuesday that the
country's exports showed continuous growth during the first nine
months of the year, driven by higher demand for non-oil products.
Supported by stronger global demand for electronic and
mechanical goods, January-to-September total exports stood at
US$62.31 billion, a 21.15 percent increase over the same period
last year.
Non-oil and gas exports during the January-September period,
which account for almost 78 percent of Indonesia's total income
from international trade, rose 21.04 percent to $48.35 billion as
compared to last year's figure.
Sales of oil and gas, meanwhile, rose 21.56 percent in the
same period to $13.9 billion. However, during September alone,
exports of these commodities dropped by 4.58 percent as compared
to August's figure of $1.79 billion.
During the first nine months of the year, exports of
electronic goods rose to $5.2 billion from $4.8 billion, while
sales of mechanical goods rose to $3.1 billion from $2.7 billion
in 2004.
Indonesia's exports hit a record high last year, reaching
$69.71 billion, up 11.49 percent from 2003. This was mainly
attributable to strong sales of non-oil and gas commodities and
goods, including palm oil, electronic goods, clothing, coal and
tin.
However, the Ministry of Trade's research and development
agency warned that this year, as statistical calculation had
shifted to the on-line method, the increase should be lower, at
around 13 percent to 14 percent.
Trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu had said previously that
Indonesia would focus the development of its exports on
electronics, as well as footwear, textiles and textile products.
Combined, the three industries contributed $16.33 billion to
the country's exports last year. As of June, exports from the
three sectors stood at $7.16 billion.
Currently, a special team from the trade ministry is
formulating incentives for the development of the three sectors.
The mineral fuels sector, which includes coal, also showed
impressive growth from $1.95 billion in 2004 to $3.12 billion
this year.
Global demand for coal has increased as countries around the
world seek alternative energy sources, partly due to soaring oil
prices.
The country's trade balance recorded a surplus of $18.56
billion for the first nine months of the year, with imports
coming in at $43.75 billion.
Imports in September dropped to $4.89 billion, 9.3 percent
lower than the $5.4 billion recorded in June.