VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia’s exports hit a 10-year high of US$21.42 billion in August 2021 due to an increase in export volumes and global commodity prices, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

"Exports in August were a new record for Indonesia. The country earlier recorded the highest export of US$18.60 billion in August 2011,” BPS chief Margo Yuwono said at an online press conference on Wednesday.

He attributed the higher exports in August 2021 to an increase in export volume and global prices of commodities, such as palm oil and coal.

"Both the volume and prices increased. The prices of palm oil and coal in the international market rose,” he said.

Indonesia’s exports in August 2021 reflected an increase of 20.95 percent compared to July 2021 and 64.10 percent compared to August 2020, he informed.

China was the largest market for Indonesia’s non-oil/non-gas exports in August 2021, with the value of exports reaching US$4.78 billion, followed by the United States (US$2.25 billion) and India (US$1.72 billion), Yuwono said.

Exports to the three countries accounted for 42.28 percent of Indonesia’s exports in the month, he added.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s exports to ASEAN and European Union (EU) member states reached US$3.37 billion and US$1.63 billion, respectively, he said.

Cumulatively, Indonesia’s exports in the January - August 2021 period touched US$142.01 billion, up 37.77 percent compared to the same period of last year. (Antaranews)