Non-oil and gas exports up by 19 percent in 10 months

Non-oil and gas exports up by 19 percent in 10 months

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Higher crude palm oil and rubber production contributed to a 19
percent increase in the country's non-oil and gas exports during
the first 10 months of the year, the Central Statistics Agency
(BPS) has reported.

Non-oil and gas exports during the period increased to US$54.5
billion from $45.9 billion compared to the corresponding period
last year.

Exports of rubber and rubber products as of October 2005
experienced the biggest increase at 14 percent to $2.8 billion
this year compared to $2.4 billion last year.

The surging global price of rubber and increasing demand,
especially from rapidly growing China, contributed to the
increase in the value of Indonesia's exports of the commodity.

Meanwhile, exports of vegetable oil products, mainly crude
palm oil and its derivatives, were up by 11 percent to $3.9
billion from $3.5 billion last year, also due to higher global
demand despite declining world prices.

Supported by stronger global demand for electronic and
mechanical goods, January-to-October total exports stood at $6.1
billion, a 9 percent increase over the same period in the
previous year.

As of October this year, exports of electronics rose to $6.1
billion from $5.6 billion in the same period last year.

Non-oil and gas exports during the January-October period
accounted for almost 78 percent of Indonesia's total income from
international trade.

Sales of oil and gas, meanwhile, rose 22.2 percent in the same
period to $15.8 billion.

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
manufactured goods, including palm oil, electronic goods,
clothing, coal and tin.

However, the Ministry of Trade's research unit warned that the
increase would probably be lower this year -- at between 13
percent and 14 percent -- due to a shift to online recording.

The country's trade balance recorded a surplus of $21.6
billion as of October this year, with imports standing at $48.6
billion.

The BPS also reported that January-October imports increased
29.13 percent to $48.63 million from $37.66 million in the same
period last year. Of this figure, oil and gas imports rose by
58.59 percent while non-oil and gas imports were up by 19.41
percent.