Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Bali's exports of diverse commodities of the handicraft industry, farming and plantation products, to the United States in the January-May 2011 period reached 41 million US dollars.
The foreign exchange earnings accounted for 19 percent of the region's foreign trade totaling 214.5 million dollars, head of the Bali industry and trade agency's exports division Putu Bagiada said here Friday.
Although the economy of the superpower had been growing only by 2.9 pct in 2010, and the economy has been growing rather sluggishly, the American consumers are still the biggest buyers of Bali's diverse handicraft goods.
Most of American importers bought diverse handicraft goods like contemporary wooden statues widely sought by locals because they are relatively cheap and of good quality.
A great deal of garments had also been shipped to that country besides vanilla and fresh and frozen tuna increased the foreign exchange earnings from the US.
The role of American consumers in buying Bali's nonoil/gas diverse goods and handicraft commodities is the highest in foreign trade in the first five months of 2011, Putu Bagiada said.
The Japanese buyers of these goods are the second highest in the January-May 2011 period.
The commodities bought by the Japanese importers are only 3.5 million dollars less than those of the American consumers, Putu Bagiada said, adding that France is the third biggest buyer with 16.1 million dollars.
In the meantime, Italian consumers known for their liking for antique art goods are the fourth biggest with 12.2 million dollars spent on Balinese accessories.
These goods are selling well in the export market, because the exporters will re-sell them after they arrived in their countries, like the US, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore and others.
The smoothness of Bali"s exports was thanks to the improved global economic condition especially in the consuming countries like Japan and Europe in particular, which may increase Bali's nonoil/gas exports, Bagiada said.(*)
