RI`s 2008 export growth exceeds target

Indonesia`s non-oil/gas exports in 2008 grew 17.16 percent to US$107.8 billion from a year earlier, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said.

The 2008 export growth exceeded the government-set target of 14.5 percent, BPS Deputy Chief Ali Rosidi said here on Monday.

Vegetable and animal oils, nearly 80 percent of which came from crude palm oil (CPO) topped the list of the country`s non-oil/gas exports last year, contributing 14.46 percent of the total non-oil/gas exports, he said.

He said vegetable and animal oil exports rose to US$15.53 billion in 2008 from US$10.23 billion the year before.

Mineral fuel came in second with a value of US10.67 billion, accounting for 9.89 percent of the total non-oil/gas exports. In 2007, mineral fuel exports stood at US$7.12 billion.

Machinery and electrical appliances contributed 7.51 percent of the total non-oil/gas exports with US$8.09 billion compared to US$7.52 billion the previous year, he said.

Rubber and rubber-based product exports made up 7.04 percent of the total non-oil/gas exports, increasing to US$7.59 billion in 2008 from US$6.25 billion a year earlier, he said.

Mechanic appliances contributed 4.84 percent of the total non-oil/gas exports with a value of US$4.68 billion in 2008 from US$5.21 billion in 2007, he said.

Compared to November 2008, the export of the five different commodities in December 2008 declined in the range of US$14 million to US300 million, he said. (ANTARA)