Farm produce exports improve by 11.65%

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's foreign exchange earnings from the export of agricultural products rose 11.65 percent to US$3.65 billion last year from $3.27 billion in 1997 due to higher prices on the international market, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said on Saturday.

BPS said the country's coffee exports in 1998 rose by 14.98 percent to $578.94 million from $503.68 million in 1997.

Tea exports in 1998 jumped by 28.34 percent to $108.36 million from $84.52 million in 1997, while black pepper exports surged by 110.44 percent to $86.70 million from $41.18 million in 1997.

Cocoa bean exports rose 29.7 percent to $382.60 million last year from $294 million in 1997, BPS said.

BPS said the higher prices Indonesian agricultural products fetched on the international market last year has encouraged farmers to plant and export more products this year.

"For example, cocoa farmers in South Sulawesi gained more revenue in 1998 because cocoa prices on the world market surged to an all-time high last year," BPS was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

BPS also said Indonesian tobacco exports reached $132.82 million last year from $90.92 million in 1997.

Exports of cinnamon and pearl increased by 28.64 percent and 51.59 percent to $31.39 million and $22.86 million respectively in 1998.

Fresh and frozen shrimp exports reached $1 billion last year while tuna exports reached $110 billion last year.

BPS, however, said exports of several agriculture-related products fell in 1998.

Exports of natural rubber dropped by 40.46 percent to $18.83 million in 1998, compared to $31.62 million in 1997.

Exports of fruits and vegetables, resin, medicinal herbs and crabs also were lower last year, BPS said.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has predicted lower production from farms this year due to an expected decline in the export of several important products.

Coffee exports are expected to fall to $478.8 million in 1999, while cocoa bean exports are expected to fall to $338.5 million this year.

Crude palm oil exports are forecast to fall to $505 million in 1999.

Frozen shrimp exports are predicted to fall to $1.02 billion, while tuna exports are expected to drop to $103.5 million this year.

Fruit and vegetable exports are expected to fall to $15.2 million and $39.7 million respectively in 1999.

The government has projected the country's total exports will increase by 3 percent to $52.3 billion in the 1999/2000 fiscal year, which began in April, from $50.7 billion in the 1998/1999 fiscal year. (gis)