Development of Agribusiness Enterprises - Asian Productivity ...

During 1995-99, some commodities in the cereal, vegetable and fruit groups
experienced increases in export volume, while others experienced the reverse (Table 1). The
smaller or higher percentage increase in value compared to the corresponding quantity,
respectively, indicates a decrease or increase in the world price of the commodities. The
promising export commodities in terms of increased quantity include maize, shallots,
mushrooms and all fruit commodities listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Changes in Export Quantity and Value of Cereals,
Roots, Tubers, Vegetables and Fruit, 1995 and 1999
(Unit: Percent)
Commodity/Product
Cereals and root crops
Changes
Quantity Value
Maize 14.53 -2.05
Manioc
Vegetables
-24.01 -57.56
Potatoes -67.75 -66.11
Shallots 106.90 158.49
Cabbages -42.83 -41.45
Mushrooms
Fruit
5.99 -33.40
Bananas 37.60 28.82
Pineapples 47.19 75.58
Mangosteen 44.43 44.60
Pineapple juice 71.16 34.67
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), 1999.
Many commodities in the above groups are imported. As shown in Table 2, wheat and
rice imports have been predominant. During 1995-99, imports of some commodities
decreased, while the others increased. Rice, wheat/meslin flour and soybean imports showed
the most remarkable increases during that period. The rapid decreases in imports of other
commodities stemmed mainly from the depreciation of the rupiah against the US dollar and
subsequent higher import prices.
During the period under review, a number of commodities in the estate crop group
experienced increases in export volume and value, while others recorded declines (Table 3).
A very rapid export increase in terms of quantity was recorded for many commodities such
as desiccated coconut (1995: nil), other coconut products, cashew nuts, areca nuts, coffee,
cinnamon, copra (1995: very small increase), palm oil, crude palm kernel oil, crude copra oil,
cocoa (especially processed products) and rubber tires. The slower increases or faster
decreases in export value compared to export volume indicate, respectively, increases or
decreases in world prices.
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