The regional Industry and Trade Department noted that exports of agricultural products during the January-May 2020 period were valued at US$34.8 million, declining to some US$15 million during the corresponding period in 2021.
"The decline was very drastic. It may be influenced by seasonal factors, so the harvest was not good, and the export value has decreased to 56.86 percent," Head of Domestic Trade Development of the South Sulawesi Industry and Trade Agency I, Dewa Nyoman Mahendrajaya, stated here on Wednesday.
A drastic decline was also recorded in the export volume of agricultural products in 2021, recorded at 67.70 percent.
South Sulawesi's agricultural product exports during the January-May 2020 period were recorded at 21,180 tons. Meanwhile, 6,840 tons of products were exported during the same period of this year.
Mahendrajaya stated that the production of leading commodities, such as cocoa and coffee from South Sulawesi, began to decline, especially cocoa, which in the last decade had continued to decline. In fact, in 2012, cocoa was the most superior product among other agricultural commodities in the region.
"The decline may be influenced by seasonal factors or unfavorable weather. In fact, in 2012, we sent up to 250 thousand tons of cocoa," he remarked.
However, although the exports of agricultural products had decreased, fishery products recorded an increase.
The exports of fishery products during the January-May 2021 period recorded an increase of 17.41 percent, although earlier contracting 0.70 percent during 2020 on account of the pandemic.
"The commodity that we export the most to foreign countries is seaweed. The number of these commodities was recorded quite a lot, while the demand for these commodities is also high," he stated. Related news: Exports hit 10-year record of $18.35 bln in March
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Translator: Nur Suhra Wardyah, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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