RI exports to U.S. rise

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's exports to the United States increased by US$182 million to $1.4 billion in the first quarter of this year over the same period of last year, the Ministry of Trade said here yesterday.

The ministry said that because Indonesia's imports to the United States rose from $130 million to $731 million in the January-March period over the corresponding period of last year, its trade surplus with that country increased by $53 million to $695 million.

It said that out of Indonesia's exports to the United States in the first quarter, the majority (1.3 billion) was contributed by non-oil products, including metal ore, telecommunications equipment, paper, paper boards, television sets, photographic equipment, plywood, cocoa, household equipment and textile products. (yns)