Farm produce exports improve by 11.65%

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)