ID :
28590
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 10:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/28590
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INDONESIA'S CACAO EXPORTS PREDICTED TO DROP 40 PCT IN Q4
Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's cacao exports in the fourth quarter this year are expected to drop to 40 percent in value because the price of the commodity had plunged once below US$3,000 per ton.
"Before the crisis the price of our cacao ranged between US$1,700 and US$2,000 per ton and now it is still at that level although it once soared up to US$3,000 per ton. Our exports will be affected. In the last quarter of this year their value will drop 30 to 40 percent compared to the previous quarter in line with the decreasing price of the commodity," the secretary general of the Indonesia Cacao Association, Zulhefy Sikumbang, said here on Tuesday.
The cancellation of exports to the US and European countries also contributed to the drop in the export value, he said, while predicting that this year's export target would still be achieved.
He said "this year's foreign exchange target will not be affected much as only a month of exports at the end of the year that will be affected."
Indonesia's cacao exports reach between 400 and 800 tons a month contributing US$140 million to the state's foreign exchange revenue.
"Our production is close to 500,000 tons this year because a lot of the crops have become old and hit be plant diseases. Next year however it is predicted to rise 10 percent because of the good weather condition," he said.
The country's cacao production in 2006 reached 590,000 tons but in 2007 dropped to 520,000 tons.
Plans to revitalize cacao plants in West Sulawesi next year are expected not to affect production because new cacao plantations in Sumatra, Aceh and Papua would have their first harvest.
"Before the crisis the price of our cacao ranged between US$1,700 and US$2,000 per ton and now it is still at that level although it once soared up to US$3,000 per ton. Our exports will be affected. In the last quarter of this year their value will drop 30 to 40 percent compared to the previous quarter in line with the decreasing price of the commodity," the secretary general of the Indonesia Cacao Association, Zulhefy Sikumbang, said here on Tuesday.
The cancellation of exports to the US and European countries also contributed to the drop in the export value, he said, while predicting that this year's export target would still be achieved.
He said "this year's foreign exchange target will not be affected much as only a month of exports at the end of the year that will be affected."
Indonesia's cacao exports reach between 400 and 800 tons a month contributing US$140 million to the state's foreign exchange revenue.
"Our production is close to 500,000 tons this year because a lot of the crops have become old and hit be plant diseases. Next year however it is predicted to rise 10 percent because of the good weather condition," he said.
The country's cacao production in 2006 reached 590,000 tons but in 2007 dropped to 520,000 tons.
Plans to revitalize cacao plants in West Sulawesi next year are expected not to affect production because new cacao plantations in Sumatra, Aceh and Papua would have their first harvest.
