Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s imports plunged 36.27 percent to US$11.26 billion in June 2018 from US$17.67 billion a month earlier, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

However, the June 2018 imports rose 12.66 percent compared to the same month last year, BPS Chief Suhariyanto said in a press conference here on Monday.

The BPS noted that non-oil/non-gas imports nosedived 38.23 percent to US$9.14 billion and oil and gas imports tumbled 26.11 percent to US$2.12 billion in June 2018 compared to the previous month.

Oil and gas imports fell as crude oil imports dropped US$343.7 million or 38.85 percent and oil product imports declined US$433.1 million or 24.98 percent. However, gas imports rose US$29.7 million or 10.39 percent.

Suhariyanto said the drop in the June 2018 imports was the result of Ied al Fitr long holidays which normally see a decline in exports and imports.

Citing an example, he said in July 2016 which coincided with Eid al Fitr holidays the country saw its imports declining to US$7.51 billion from US$10.52 billion a month earlier.

This is the case with the Eid al Fitr holidays in June 2017 when imports fell to US$8.39 billion from US$11.98 billion the month before, he said.

The import decline in June 2018 happened to three types of commodities including consumer goods, raw materials and capital goods which fell 41.85 percent, 35,.1 percent and 37.81 percent respectively.

The import of consumer goods was valued at US$1.01 billion in June 2018, with the import of long grain white rice, refined sugar, garlic, vaccines and medicines falling.

Raw materials gave the greatest contribution to the total imports at 75.58 percent or US$8.51 billion. The raw materials which saw import decline included parts of transmission apparatuses, deffated soya, raw sugar, and raw cotton.

The import of capital goods was valued at US$1.74 billion in June 2018, down 37.81 percent from a month earlier. The capital goods whose imports declined included tissue producing machines, laptops and notebooks, and several machines and apparatus related to telecommunication.

Reported by Mentari Dwi
(T.S012/A/KR-BSR/F001)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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