Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s export revenues this year are expected to be similar to last year`s US$190 billion, according to Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan.

He said here on Friday that the global economic slowdown was making it hard for Indonesia to increase its exports. "This trend is predicted to continue for some time," Gita stated.

"Indonesia is highly dependent on commodity exports, which account for 65 percent of our total exports. Therefore, when commodity prices decrease, the country`s export revenues fall," he explained.

"The volume of exports has been increasing, but the prices of the export commodities have been decreasing," Gita pointed out.

According to Trade Ministry data, Indonesia`s total export revenues in 2012 are expected to reach US$190 billion, down 6 percent from the previous year`s US$203.6 billion.

Up to November 2012, Indonesia`s export revenues were recorded at US$174.8 billion, down 6.3 percent from the same period in 2011.

(V003/A051/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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