Development of Agribusiness Enterprises - Asian Productivity ...

Indonesia imported only a few commodities within the estate crop group (Table 4).
The most notable ones were sugar products (sugar cane, other raw sugar and molasses, and
beet sugar). With the exception of tobacco, imports increased very rapidly during 1995-99.
The most likely reason for the increase was the substantial cut in import tariffs.
Table 4. Changes in Import Quantity and Value of
Estate Commodities, 1995 and 1999
Commodity/Product
1995
Changes
1999
Cloves 5,162,000.46 5,320,882.74
Tobacco -18.65 -9.68
Sugar cane 437.71 200.10
Beet sugar 156.27 43.46
Other raw sugar 199.60 51.45
Molasses 440.66 118.69
Source: CBS, 1999.
During 1995-99, in the livestock group, the most important export commodity was live
swine with export volume and value showing rapid increases (Table 5). Imports of livestock
commodities were more important, including cattle (beef cattle), beef meat, milk and feed
supplement (Table 6). Imports of cattle and milk declined during the same period, due
primarily to the depreciation of the rupiah against the US dollar that followed the start of the
region’s economic crisis in mid-1997.
In the fisheries commodities group, export volumes of most commodities increased
during 1995-99 (Table 5). Indonesia has relied on fisheries products as an important source
of foreign exchange earnings. Fishmeal imports were predominant in this group. In
Indonesia, fishmeal is used as an ingredient for feed production.
Table 5. Changes in Export Quantity and Value of Livestock and Fisheries Products
and Residues, 1995 and 1999
(Unit: Percent)
Commodity/Product
Changes
1995 1999
Livestock: Live swine 71.75 75.40
Fisheries: Tunas/skipjack 3.07 -20.35
Other fish 85.12 47.23
Marine fish 15.46 -15.11
Frozen tuna/skipjack -16.28 -39.40
Tuna/skipjack in airtight containers 23.85 32.85
Frozen marine fish 35.92 56.01
Frozen shrimp and prawn 4.32 -17.54
Residues: Wheat residues -30.87 -44.62
Oil cake 21.51 -33.63
Source: CBS, 1999.
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