Wednesday, March 3, 2010
RI's Export Performance Back to Pre-Crisis Level: Minister
Source: ANTARA News


Jakarta - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Indonesia's exports were now performing like before the crisis in line with the world's economic recovery.

"To me it is positive. Exports have recovered in line with the world's economic recovery including high growth in Asia," she said here on Tuesday.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) earlier reported Indonesia's exports in January 2010 dropped 13.29 percent from US$13.340 billion in December 2009 to only US$11.575 billion.

Compared to January 2009's exports which were recorded at US$7.28 billion it was a 58.99 percent hike.

The drop in exports in January 2010 followed a decline in the export of non-oil and gas by 14.87 percent from US$10.845 billion to US$9.232 billion.

It also happened after oil and gas exports slid 6.42 percent from US$2.503 billion to US$2.342 billion with crude exports down 30.21 percent to US$667.1 million.

Exports of oil products rose 5.25 percent to US$313.3 million and gas up 9.0 percent to US$1.362 billion.

In terms of volume oil and gas exports in January 2010 namely crude and oil products respectively dropped 31.83 percent and 4.13 percent (according to data from Pertamina and BP Migas). Exports of gas however rose 10.56 percent.

Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to China has kept on the increase, again leaving the US and Japan behind as the country's main export destinations.

Mari said the condition was normal as demand for goods from the US has reached its peak in the last quarter of 2009 ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"It is common as a seasonal trend. US demand increased ahead of Christmas and New Year which has already passed," she said.

According to BPS exports to China in January 2010 reached US$1.012 billion while to the US only US$997.7 million. Exports to China surpassed those to the European Union which were valued at US$1.05 billion.

In December 2009 exports to China also beat exports to US, recorded at US$1.207 billion against only US$1.044 billion to the US.

Indonesia's exports to Japan in January 2010 remained the highest at US$1.316 billion up from US$1.25 billion in December 2009.

Non-oil and gas exports to Japan were recorded high at US$1.32 billion in line with improving economic conditions in that country.