Indonesia Favored With Larger Surplus In Trade With Taiwan

Taipei (Antara Bali) - Indonesia recorded a surplus of US$1.56 billion in trade with Taiwan in the first half of 2014, or an increase of 89.5 percent from the same period last year.

Head of the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office in Taipei, Arief Fadillah, said in a news release on Friday the bilateral trade was worth US$1.05 billion in June alone up from US$0.91 million in May, 2014.

The surge was attributable to a 25.51 percent increase in trade of commodities other than oil and gas, Arief said.

However, cumulatively the bilateral trade in the first half of 2014 reached US$5.66 billion, down 6.88 percent on year.

"Therefore, we have to be more active in taking part in trade exhibition in Taiwan together with Indonesian companies" he said.

Indonesia`s exports to Taiwan were valued at US$685.39 million in June or an increase of 15.37 percent from the previous month and 33.06% on year.

Commodities other than oil and gas accounted for 70 percent of the export value to that country in June.

"Cumulatively exports to Taiwan in the first half of 2013 were valued at US$3.61 billion," Arief said.

Major export commodities to Taiwan are coal, natural gas, copper and other metals .  (WDY)