RI's Exports Down Due to Ban on Unprocessed Mineral Exports

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia's January 2014 exports fell 5.79 percent to US$14.48 billion, from US$15.38 billion in January 2013, partially due to a newly implemented law banning the export of unprocessed minerals, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) stated. The ban led to a 70.13 percent slump in the exports of metal ore, crust, and ash to US$291.8 million in January 2014, from US$997 million in December 2013, BPS Deputy Chief for Production Adi Lumaksono noted here on Monday. "The drop in exports is the result of a ban on the export of unprocessed minerals, besides seasonal factors in January, which normally sees a decline in exports," he added. He remarked that the export of mineral fuels also plummeted 17.13 percent to reach US$1.76 billion from US$2.13 billion, and the export of fat and animal/vegetable oils fell 13.84 percent to reach US$1.44 billion, he reported. The export of rubber and rubber products tumbled 3.61 percent to reach US$702.3 million and machines/electric appliances recorded a drop of 1.83 percent to reach US$85.1 million, he added. (*)