"Imported fruits from China have reached 55 percent," said Deddy Saleh, the director general of foreign trade, here on Friday.
Other countries that export fruits to Indonesia are Thailand (28 percent), the U.S. (10 percent), Chile (4 percent), and Australia (3 percent).
Deddy noted China was also Indonesia's main source of imported vegetables, making up 67 percent of the total volume of imported vegetables in the country in 2011. It was followed by Thailand (10 percent), Myanmar (10 percent), India (8 percent), and Vietnam (5 percent).
He said the most imported horticultural product in 2011 was onion, valued at US$242 milion, followed by apples (US$153 million), oranges (US$150 million), grapes (US$99 million), longan (US$99 million), pir (US$92 million), red onion (US$74 million), and durian (US$74 million).
The trade ministry on May 7 issued a regulation on imports of horticultural products, requiring importers to pay attention to food safety, domestic supply, production and consumption targets, packaging, and impact on animal health, plants, and the environment.
"Under the regulation, importers are also required to get an import approval from the trade ministry based on recommendations from the agriculture ministry," Deddy stated.
He said the country`s imports of horticultural products have sharply increased in the past few years, from US$600 million in 2006 to US$1.7 billion in 2011.
(SYS/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Suryanto
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