N Sulawesi's Imports Up 127 Pct

Manado, Nov 7 (Antara) - The Regional office of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said North Sulawesi recorded a 127 percent increase in imports in September 2014 over the previous month. Head of the regional BPS office Faizal Anwar said imports of the province in September were valued at US$8.97 million , up from US$3.95 million in August. Faizal increases were recorded mainly in the imports of mechanical machines , steel products and animal oil and fats. He said the imports in September brought the total value of imports of the province to US$92.88 million in the first nine months of the year or an increase of 6.57 percent on-year. The largest country of origin for the imports was China from which imports in September were valued at US$2.43 million , followed by Australia from which imports were valued at US$2.15 million and the Philippines US$0.82 million. Cumulatively in the first nine months of the year, the largest imports came from the United States totaling US$28.35 million , followed by China US$14.17 million and the Philippines US$12.29 million. Meanwhile, head of the regional industry and trade office Jenny Karouw said North Sulawesi exported nutmeg to the Netherlands and Argentina by the end of October, 2014. "The nutmeg exports to the two countries totaled 56 tons worth US$631,000 ," Jenny said here on Friday. Exports of that commodity to the Netherlands totaled 39 tons valued at US$414,250 and to Argentina 17 tons valued at US$216,750. Jenny said nutmeg from the province is high in demand in Asia and Europe and the United States as the quality is superior.