Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s exports were up by 0.49 percent to US$15.65 billion in February, compared to US$14.57 billion in January, according to National Statistics Agency (BPS).

"The rise in exports in February was driven by oil and gas exports that grew 5.19 percent from US$3.142 billion to US$3.305 billion," BPS chief Suryamin said here on Monday.

Total exports in February 2012 rose by 8.54 percent year-on-year, compared to the same period last year, he noted.

The hike in oil and gas exports in February, however, was also accompanied by a drop in exports of non-oil and gas commodities from US$12.437 billion to US$12.34 billion.

Suryamin said the hike was driven by exports of crude oil, which were up by 22.1 percent to US$1.17 billion, and gas, which increased by 2.07 percent to US$1.85 billion.

Exports of oil products, however, declined by 22.8 percent to US$290.4 million, he added.

Jointly, national exports during the period January-February were recorded at US$31.22 billion, up 7.56 percent from the same period last year at US$29.02 billion, while exports of non-oil and gas reached US$24.77 billion, rising by 4.09 percent from US$23.79 billion during the same period last year.

Suryamin said in February 2012 that fats and animal/vegetable oils exports suffered the largest drop, by US$547.2 million, while the largest increase was recorded in the exports of rubber and rubber products by US$62.1 million.

He added that the drop in exports was found in destination countries such as India, down by US$293.2 million, Japan by US$122,1 million, Malaysia by US$98.1 million, South Korea at US$21.1 million, Britain US416 million, Germany US$13,5 million, Taiwan US$8.2 million and Australia, falling by UD$1.3 million.

Exports to China, however, jumped by US$216.9 million, to Singapore by US$106.1 million, to Thailand by US$73.6 million, to France by US$6.5 million and the US increased by US$4.2 million.

Also, Indonesia`s exports to European Union countries in February reached US$1.5 billion, he added.

So, the largest non-oil/gas export destination countries in February were China, with exports reaching US$1.58 billion, followed by Japan, reaching US$1.20 billion, and the US, increasing to US$1.20 billion, while contributing 34.53 percent of total exports, Suryamin said.

He further said that based upon products, the largest non-oil/gas exports in February were mineral fuels, recorded at US$2.11 billion, followed by fats and animal/vegetable oils at US$1.51 billion, machinery/electrical equipment at US$859.4 million, rubber and rubber-based products at US$853.6 million and engines/mechanical aircraft at US$516.7 million.

The BPS, meanwhile, also recorded month-on-month imports in February 2012 that were up by US$2.74 percent to US$14.95 billion, compared to US$14.55 billion in January 2012.

Suryamin noted that non-oil/gas imports in February totalled US$11.46 billion, while oil/gas imports reached US$3.492 billion.

"Non-oil/gas imports in February were down 0.08 percent to US$11.46 billion, compared to January, which were recorded at US$11.54 billion, while imports of oil and gas in February reached US$3.492 billion, or rose by 15.68 percent compared to US$3.02 billion in January," he said.

He noted that the largest non-oil/gas imports in February consisted of engines and mechanical equipment, worth US$2.12 billion and down by 8.10 percent from US$2.3 billion in January 2012.

Three non-oil/gas goods suffered a drop in import value, namely mechanical machinery and equipment by US$186.6 million, electrical equipment and machinery at US$145.9 million, and cereal at US$47.7 million.

Seven items that rose in import value, meanwhile, were aircraft and its components by US$253.9 million, organic chemicals rose by US$103.6 million, iron steel at US$48.4 million, plastic and plastic goods at US$15.6 million, motor vehicles and their parts at US$12.4 million, and rubber and rubber goods at US$8.2 million.

Also, imports from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in February reached US$2.55 billion, while the European Union imports stood at US$1.05 billion.

Based on countries of origin, China was the largest exporter of non-oil/gas commodities to Indonesia, with its exports reaching US$1.89 billion, or 16.48 percent of Indonesia`s total imports during the period.

Japan was second with non-oil/gas exports to Indonesia reaching US$1.85 billion, followed by Thailand at US$920.9 million, the US with exports up to US$861.1 million, Singapore at US$817.1 million, South Korea at US$627.5 million and Malaysia at US$531.9 million.

India was next with exports to the country reaching US$398.5 million, followed by Australia at US$368.7 million, Taiwan at US$299.4 million, Germany at US$273.3 million, France at US$202.7 million and Britain reaching US$93.7 million.

Oil and gas imports in February 2012 also rose to US$3.49 billion from US$3.01 billion, driven by an increase in imports of oil and gas production, respectively, at US$420.9 million and US$114.8 million. Imports of crude, meanwhile, slid to US$62.3 million.

Suryamin said the value of imports from January to February year-on-year rose 21.39 percent to US$29.51 billion, from US$24.31 billion during the same period last year.
(T.R017/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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