Maluku fish exports up

AMBON (JP): Maluku's fishery exports increased by about 20 percent last year to 170.96 million tons, from 143 million tons in 1997, according to the provincial office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Head of the foreign trade department Mustakin Amin said on Friday the increase in the export volume was due to higher orders for frozen fish, squid, shrimp, pearls and sprinkled fishfrom Asian buyers.

Fish powder exports, for example, increased sharply to six million tons worth $2.85 million , he was quoted by Antara as saying.

But he said foreign exchange earnings from fishery exports dropped to US$165 million from $170 million due to the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar.

Key markets for Maluku fishery products are Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China and Korea. (cst)