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Indonesia: Fruit exports grow, imports decrease
Indonesia’s fruit exports increased by 24 percent in September from the same month last year, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
The ministry’s fruit and floriculture director, Sarwo Edhy, said that most export recipients were non-tropical countries, where demand had shifted toward organic fruits.
“Our top fruit exports included mangoes, bananas, snake fruits, oranges, mangosteen, pineapples and rambutans,” said Sarwo on Friday as reported by kontan.co.id.
At the same time, fruit imports have decreased almost 30 percent to US$91.5 million in September from $130.7 million in the same month last year.
“Our production is increasing and Indonesians generally don’t fancy imported fruits other than, for instance, dates and grapes,” he said.
The ministry expects Indonesia’s overall fruit exports in 2018 to increase by 9 percent compared to 2017. Fruit exports already increased by 7.5 percent from 2016 to 2017.
Concurring with the ministry, Hasan Johnny Widjaja, chairman of the Indonesian Fruit and Vegetables Export Association, said his organization had also enjoyed an increase in exports this year.
“Our exports to China have increased after it eased regulations,” said Hasan. (nor/bbn)
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/10/08/fruit-exports-grow-imports-decrease.html