RI toy exports set to surge in 1995
RI toy exports set to surge in 1995
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's toy exports, spurred by a stronger
demand from Europe, are expected to surge again this year after
suffering a 16 percent drop in 1994.
The president of PT Asiana IMI Industries, Winarto Alim, said
here yesterday that exports of toys are estimated to increase by
around 50 percent to US$270 million this year.
He said the European Union's decision last year to limit toy
imports from China has benefited Indonesian toy manufacturers.
"The prospects for Indonesia's exports of toy products are
more promising this year," he added.
Data at the Central Bureau of Statistics, indicate that the
free on board value of Indonesia's exports of toys, including
games and sporting goods, dropped by around 16 percent to $180.61
million last year from $216.80 million in 1993.
The estimated 50 percent growth in this year's toy exports is
only half of the annual growth of over 100 percent in the period
between 1989 and 1992 when the industry recorded its initial
boom.
Winarto said that Asiana, which exports around 60 percent of
its products, also expects to benefit from stronger demand on the
European market.
"We expect to book a 30 percent increase in sales this year on
the impact of the stronger demand from Europe," he said following
the company's annual shareholders' meeting.
Asiana, which produces toys with a number of foreign brands,
registered a 142 percent increase in its sales revenues to Rp
25.46 billion ($11.5 million) in 1994 from Rp 10.51 billion in
the previous year.
The net profit of Asiana, which is listed on the Jakarta and
Surabaya stock exchanges, rose 290 percent to Rp 4.01 billion
from around Rp 1.02 billion in 1993.
Winarta explained that the company's earning per share rose by
only 134 percent to Rp 507 from Rp 216 due to the issuance of new
shares last year.
He explained that the meeting approved the management's
proposal to pay a cash dividend of Rp 35 (1.5 U.S. cent) per
share for the 1994 bookkeeping year. (hen)