RI increases exports to China

RI increases exports to China

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The country's exports in the first nine months of this year
showed surprising strong growth, with a boost from the export of
crude oil, natural gas, coal, rubber-based products and organic
chemicals, particularly to China, the Central Statistic Agency
(BPS) reported on Monday.

The BPS said that exports grew by 10.77 percent in the January
to September period to reach US$50.74 billion from $45.81 billion
in the same period of last year.

Oil and gas exports rose by 10.14 percent to $11.45 billion.

Non-oil and gas exports during the nine-month period ending in
September were up by 10.95 percent to stand at $39.29 billion
year on year, with a significant boost being provided by rubber-
based products, coal and organic chemicals, providing a combined
total of $5.23 billion, up from $3.91 billion last year.

Almost all non-oil and gas commodities were up, except for
electrical machinery, ores, slags and metal ashes, and fishing
products.

The BPS also reported that non-oil and gas exports to all
major destinations increased in the January to September period,
with exports to China booking the biggest expansion of 25 percent
to reach $2.49 billion.

Exports to the U.S. market increased to $6.04 billion, up
11.44 percent from the same period last year, making it
Indonesia's largest export market, while Japan was the second
largest market with $5.96 billion.

Looking at the nine-month export performance, officials are
optimistic that the government's 7 percent non-oil and gas export
target of $50.73 billion for this year will be achieved.

Earlier, officials said that strong economic growth in China
and other parts of Asia had contributed to the relatively strong
export growth in Indonesia.

"The big gain is mostly due to China, which is now the
locomotive in the region," BPS export statistics official Dantes
Simbolon told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, imports surged by 38.82 percent to $33.41 billion
in the first nine month compared to the same period last year.

The surge in imports contributed to a decline in the country's
trade surplus to $17.33 billion from $21.73 billion in the
January to September period of last year.