U.S. topped Japan as biggest buyer of RI products last year

JAKARTA (JP): The United States topped Japan as the largest importer of Indonesian products in the first 10 months of last year, according to government data.

The Central Bureau of Statistics' January report shows that non-oil and gas exports to America rose by 0.94 percent in the January to October period last year to US$5.63 billion from $5.57 billion.

During the same period, exports to Japan slumped 25.36 percent to $4.35 billion from $5.83 billion, making it the third largest importer of Indonesia's products after the U.S. and Singapore.

Indonesia's exports to Singapore rose significantly by 22.8 percent to $4.82 billion from $3.93 billion.

The fall in export value to Japan was mainly caused by the economic crisis hitting the country, causing market absorption to deteriorate, Antara reported.

The U.S. economy, however, was booming last year, pushing up demand for products from Indonesia.

According to the report, export volume to Singapore increased because the city state remained the main transit point for Indonesian-made products before being re-exported to other countries.

Exports to Hong Kong also grew by 12.06 percent to $1.65 billion and those to China rose by 15.45 percent to $1.23 billion, while exports to Germany dropped 1.77 percent to $1.19 billion, the bulletin said.

According to the report, during the January to October period last year, exports of agricultural products increased by 15.42 percent to $3.04 billion from $2.64 billion, while manufactured goods rose by 2.58 percent to $29.34 billion.

Exports of white pepper rose 36.48 percent to $26.36 million, pearl exports surged 68.85 percent to $17.3 million, and snail sales by 57.36 percent to $4.31 million.

Exports of natural rubber fell by 32.54 percent to $16.76 million, black pepper by 17.30 percent to $78.59 million and seaweed by 63.26 percent to $2.38 million.

Exports of industrial manufactured products that grew in the first 10 months of last year were steel, by 71.19 percent to $689.97 million, mint oil by 102.37 percent to $48.17 million and stearin by 454.88 percent to $79.64 million.

Exports of plywood dropped by 42.26 percent to $1.7 billion, iron sheeting by 47.07 percent to $1.10 million and palm oil by 56.99 percent to $485.75 million. (das)