"The increase in non-oil/non-gas exports in March 2012 was led by vegetable oil."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s exports in March reached US$17.27 billion, a 10.01 percent increase compared to US$15.69 billion in February, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said.

"The March 2012 exports consisted of oil and gas exports worth US$3.5 billion and non-oil/non-gas exports valued at US$13.76 billion," BPS Chief Suryamin said here Tuesday.

The exports brought the total exports in the first quarter of 2012 to US$48.53 billion, up 6.93 percent from US$45.39 billion in the same period last year, he said.

Compared to March 2011, the non-oil/non-gas exports in March 2012 rose 11.55 percent from US$12.34 billion to US$13.76 billion and oil and gas exports increased 4.37 percent from US$3.36 billion to US$3.5 billion, he said.

He said the increase in oil and gas exports resulted from a 6.32 percent increase in crude oil exports to US$1.29 billion, and a 80.21 percent surge in oil product exports to US$525.9 million.

"The increase in non-oil/non-gas exports in March 2012 was led by vegetable oil which reached US$2.18 billion, up by US$670.1 million from US$1.51 billion in February 2012. Meanwhile, the decline in non-oil/non-gas exports was led by copper products which fell by US$68.3 million from US$307.7 million to US$239.4 million," he said.

Other commodities which also recorded export growth were mineral fuels, rubber and rubber products, machinery and electrically appliances, crust ore, and metal ash.

Meanwhile, the export of copper, non-knitted garments, wood, wood products and footwear declined.

The March 2012 non-oil/non-gas exports mostly went to China with US$2.048 billion, followed by Japan US$1.43 billion and the US US$1.28 billion.

"The non-oil/non-gas exports to the three biggest destinations accounted for 34.63 percent of the overall non-oil/non-gas exports," he said.

Meanwhile, Singapore led Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas exports to other ASEAN member countries with US$919.5 million, followed by Malaysia US$846.4 million and Thailand US$490.1 million.

However, non-oil/non-gas exports to Japan in March 2012 fell US$48 million, followed by Germany US$29.8 million, Britain US$4.1 million, and Australia US$0.6 million.
(T.R017/S012/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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