"Compared to that of February, exports in March were down 0.08 percent," BPS chief Suryamin said here on Wednesday.
Compared to the same period last year exports in March were down 13.03 percent.
Suryamin said the 0.08 percent drop in March was attributed to the drop in the value of non-oil and gas exports by 2.77 percent from US$12.4 billion to US$12.1 billion.
Although exports dropped in March, exports of oil and gas rose 12.94 percent in the month from US$2.5 billion to US$2.9 billion.
The rise in the oil and gas exports was caused an increase in the exports of crude oil by 5.29 percent or US$885.8 million and also an increase in the exports of oil products by 10.23 percent or US$357.5 million. Natural gas exports also rose 18.17 percent to US$1.6 billion, he said.
The volume of oil and gas exports in March was up 6.37 percent from the previous month while of gas exports was up 15.74 percent but the volume of exports of oil products was down 6.32 percent.
Exports of non-oil and gas mostly went to China reaching US$1.8 billion followed by Japan at US$1.338 billion and the US at US$1.319 billion comprising 36.81 percent of the country`s total exports.
Exports to several countries dropped from February such as to Singapore to US$242.9 million, India US$106.8 million and Malaysia US$13.3 million.
Although exports dropped Indonesia still enjoyed a surplus of US$304.9 million in its trade in March.
reporting by vicki febrianto
(H-YH/O001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
