Indonesian
Trade Minister M. Lutfi said he had instructed state food procurement body
Bulog to anticipate the possibility of a rice supply shortfall, to cope with
domestic consumption, suggesting that the agency had been granted approval to
import. Anticipatory measures were also needed to prepare for the seasonal El
Nino effect, which is expected in August, according to Lutfi.
The
Central Statistic Agency reported that the forecast of unhusked rice output
this year was 69.87 million tons, down 1.98 percent, or 1.41 million tons, from
last year, due to smaller farming area and a drop in productivity.
The government has restricted exports of unrefined
minerals with punitive export duties and the introduction of stringent
measures, such as an obligation for mining companies to commit to value-added
programs.
The
resumption of concentrate exports in the second half, coupled with the surge in
exports of manufactured products such as cars, may help Indonesia book a trade
surplus and achieve the targeted $190 billion in export value this year, Lutfi
said.
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