Perhutani upbeat to reach sale target

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned forestry company Perum Perhutani announced on Tuesday sales revenues in the first six months of 2000 of Rp 850.78 billion ($100 million) -- 45 percent of the Rp 1.89 trillion it has targeted for the year.

Perhutani president Abbas T.S. said in a media conference he was optimistic the full year target could be reached.

"Sales from exports usually increase in November and December," Abbas said.

Export sales for the first semester reached Rp 243 billion ($30.86 million) while domestic sales reached Rp 549.61 billion, he said.

Perhutani, founded in 1972, has teak and pine plantations as its core business. It earns 75 percent of its total revenue from sales of teak wood.

Perhutani's export earnings come from sales of finished teak and other timber, and from nonwood forestry products such as gum resin and turpentine.

Garden furniture contributed for most of its export earnings, which in the first semester was worth $17 million, Abbas said.

In the nonwood forest products, gum resin contributed $9.26 million, he added.

Abbas said the company lost Rp 187 billion worth of timber during the first semester through theft and smuggling, which was an improvement from Rp 275 billion losses during the same period last year.

The company succeeded in salvaging 65,868 cubic meters of timber worth Rp 30 billion between January and June. (10)