Chinese Imports Now Highest in Indonesia
Thursday, 02 November, 2006 | 14:13 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Having pushed Japan aside, China becomes the largest importer in Indonesia during the period between January and September 2006.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has recorded that the cumulative value of 10 imported Chinese commodities during this period reached US$4.007 billion or an increase of 16.54 percent compared to the same period of last year.

The value of Chinese imported commodities, according to BPS Head Rusman Heriawan, has pushed aside Japanese imported commodities at US$3.975 billion.

“In fact, in the previous month (August), Japan was still number one. Now, Chinese products control 12.86 percent of market share in Indonesia,” he said yesterday (11/1) in Jakarta.

According to Rusman, Chinese products can control the Indonesia market because its prices were 50 percent cheaper than other products.

“People, especially those in the medium to lower class segment, like these products,” he said.

Chinese imported products were mainly machinery and electronic goods, organic chemicals, fruits, vegetables and plastic goods.

BPS data showed that the most imported Chinese products were machinery and electronic goods.

During between January and September, the cumulative value reached US$466.1 million.

This amount is an increase of US$63.438 million (15.76 percent) compared to the same period last year.

The largest increase in imports during this year was in fruit and fruit products.

This year, their cumulative value reached US$134.551 million or an 121.35 percent increase of US$73.765 million compared to the same period in the previous year.

In addition, the value of Japanese imported products during January-September 2006 decreased by US$1.45 billion.

The value of Japanese imported products amounted to US$3.975 billion, a decrease of 26.74 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rusman estimated that China will continue being the biggest country which imports goods to Indonesia.

“As long as they are cheap, Chinese products will still be consumed,” he said.

PRAMONO