INDONESIA'S F&B IMPORTS UP 15.66 PCT, M'SIA BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Indonesia's imports of processed food and
beverage (F&B) products rose 15.66 percent in the first seven months of 2011
with Malaysia being the biggest contributor.

Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi) Secretary-General Franky
Sibarani said imports from Malaysia made up 24.7 percent of the total, followed
by China (12.9 percent), Thailand (10.2 percent) and Singapore (7.9 percent).

During Jan-July 2011, he said, the value of F&B imports from Malaysia
reached US$33.85 million, a 65.56 percent jump from US$20.44 million in the
previous corresponding period, Media Indonesia daily reported Thursday.

Data from Gapmmi showed leaps in F&B imports through Dumai Port in Riau
besides Tanjung Periok Port in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya and
Belawan Port in Medan.

Other entry points, however, showed decreases in imports like Juanda Airport
in Surabaya (95 percent), Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali (47 percent),
Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar (60 percent) and Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang
(12.19 percent.

The increase in imports in recent months reflected demand ahead of Ramadan
and Aidilfitri celebrations.