RI's exports to China rise slowly
RI's exports to China rise slowly
Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta
Indonesian exports to China have been increasing over the past
four years but at a much slower pace than those from other ASEAN
members, a senior official at the Ministry of Industry and Trade
said on Tuesday.
The trade lag with China meant Indonesia was being eclipsed by
other countries in the region, director of agricultural and
mining exports Muhammad Najib told The Jakarta Post.
In terms of value, Indonesia's exports to China increased by
30.68 percent, from US$4.40 billion in 2000 to $5.75 billion last
year. However, the country's contribution to China's total
imports declined by almost 30 percent, to a mere 1.39 percent of
the total value of $413.10 billion in imports last year, from
1.96 percent of $225.10 billion in 2000.
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines' exports to
China were all growing faster than Indonesia's, Najib said.
"Indonesia has yet to establish a trade representative in
China. Malaysia already has a marketing office for crude palm oil
in Beijing, while Singapore has set up its Singapore Chamber of
Commerce there," he said. Najib recently ended his five-year term
as the industry and trade attache at the Indonesian Embassy in
Beijing.
Thailand was even more progressive, as it had imposed zero
tariffs on vegetable and fruit products as part of the "early
harvest" program in the ASEAN free trade agreement with China,
Najib said.
There remained great export potential in China's markets,
which would continue to grow, he said.
Najib said Indonesia's total trade with China last year
reached US$10.2 billion, with a surplus of more than $1 billion
for Indonesia.
Indonesia's top five exports to China last year were oil and
gas commodities, wood and wood panels, pulp and paper, organic
chemicals and machinery. Meanwhile, China's top three exports to
Indonesia were machinery, electronic and chemical goods.
All 10 ASEAN member countries accounted for 11.46 percent of
China's total imports last year, an increase of 16.35 percent on
2000's total of 9.85 percent.
Najib pointed to China Customs office data indicating
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines had increased
their contribution last year by 38.93 percent, 12.89 percent,
9.74 percent and 104 percent, respectively.
In three years, the Philippines boosted its exports by 276
percent -- from $1.68 billion in 2000 to $6.31 billion last year.
Meanwhile, during the same period, Malaysia almost tripled its
exports from $5.48 billion to $14 billion, Singapore's exports
soared from $5.06 billion to $10.49 billion and Thailand's
doubled from $4.38 billion to $8.83 billion.
Meanwhile, the ministry's National Export Development Agency
head, Diah Maulida, told the Post that Indonesia's previous
foreign policy stance in the region was an important reason why
it lagged behind other ASEAN countries in building trade
relationships with China.
The ministry planned to boost the promotion of Indonesian
products in China by holding exhibitions in major Chinese cities,
including Beijing, Guang Zhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong this year,
she said. One show, the "Indonesia Solo Exhibition" runs in
Beijing from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.
Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta
Indonesian exports to China have been increasing over the past
four years but at a much slower pace than those from other ASEAN
members, a senior official at the Ministry of Industry and Trade
said on Tuesday.
The trade lag with China meant Indonesia was being eclipsed by
other countries in the region, director of agricultural and
mining exports Muhammad Najib told The Jakarta Post.
In terms of value, Indonesia's exports to China increased by
30.68 percent, from US$4.40 billion in 2000 to $5.75 billion last
year. However, the country's contribution to China's total
imports declined by almost 30 percent, to a mere 1.39 percent of
the total value of $413.10 billion in imports last year, from
1.96 percent of $225.10 billion in 2000.
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines' exports to
China were all growing faster than Indonesia's, Najib said.
"Indonesia has yet to establish a trade representative in
China. Malaysia already has a marketing office for crude palm oil
in Beijing, while Singapore has set up its Singapore Chamber of
Commerce there," he said. Najib recently ended his five-year term
as the industry and trade attache at the Indonesian Embassy in
Beijing.
Thailand was even more progressive, as it had imposed zero
tariffs on vegetable and fruit products as part of the "early
harvest" program in the ASEAN free trade agreement with China,
Najib said.
There remained great export potential in China's markets,
which would continue to grow, he said.
Najib said Indonesia's total trade with China last year
reached US$10.2 billion, with a surplus of more than $1 billion
for Indonesia.
Indonesia's top five exports to China last year were oil and
gas commodities, wood and wood panels, pulp and paper, organic
chemicals and machinery. Meanwhile, China's top three exports to
Indonesia were machinery, electronic and chemical goods.
All 10 ASEAN member countries accounted for 11.46 percent of
China's total imports last year, an increase of 16.35 percent on
2000's total of 9.85 percent.
Najib pointed to China Customs office data indicating
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines had increased
their contribution last year by 38.93 percent, 12.89 percent,
9.74 percent and 104 percent, respectively.
In three years, the Philippines boosted its exports by 276
percent -- from $1.68 billion in 2000 to $6.31 billion last year.
Meanwhile, during the same period, Malaysia almost tripled its
exports from $5.48 billion to $14 billion, Singapore's exports
soared from $5.06 billion to $10.49 billion and Thailand's
doubled from $4.38 billion to $8.83 billion.
Meanwhile, the ministry's National Export Development Agency
head, Diah Maulida, told the Post that Indonesia's previous
foreign policy stance in the region was an important reason why
it lagged behind other ASEAN countries in building trade
relationships with China.
The ministry planned to boost the promotion of Indonesian
products in China by holding exhibitions in major Chinese cities,
including Beijing, Guang Zhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong this year,
she said. One show, the "Indonesia Solo Exhibition" runs in
Beijing from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.