Thu, 29 Jun 1995

Soybean cake imports raised

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday instructed a boost in imports of soybean cake to cut down the prices of cattle feed.

State Secretary Moerdiono was quoted by Antara as saying that Soeharto has asked for imports of more soybean cake -- an important ingredient in cattle feed -- to raise the ratio between domestic production and imports to 20:80 from 30:70.

Head of the State Logistics Agency Beddu Amang, who accompanied Moerdiono in a meeting with Soeharto, said that the current demand for soybean cake is 400,000 to 500,000 tons per year, of which 150,000 tons are supplied by local producers.

Locally-produced soybean cake is currently sold at Rp 650 (29 U.S. cents) per kilogram, far above import prices of about Rp 560 to Rp 570 per kilogram.

In 1993, the ratio between local production to imports was 40:60.(pwn)