The global economic downturn has begun impacting on trade activities in East Java, with a 29 percent downgrade in the export and import volumes through Tanjung Perak Seaport last month, say industry sources.
Spokesman for the state-owned seaport operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III, Iwan Sabatini, said Saturday that data from the East Java branch of the Indonesian Exporter Association (GPEI) and the Indonesian Expedition Forwarder Association (Gafeksi) indicated that declining export and import activities were expected to continue until the end of this month.
"However despite this Pelindo III will still reach its revenue target of Rp 512 billion because we collected Rp 486 billion from seven ports by the third fiscal quarter," he said.
"We are optimistic we can earn at least Rp 26 billion in this quarter, which ends this month."
PT Pelindo III manages major seaports in East Java, Central Java, Bali, South and Central Kalimantan and West and East Nusa Tenggara.
Chairman of the provincial branch of the All-Indonesian Importers Association (Ginsi), Judy Purwoko, said the global financial crisis had begun negatively affecting the provincial economy.
"Import volume has decreased by 30 percent, partly also because the government's policy to limit the importation of toys, garments, electronics, food and footwear has taken its toll," he said, referring to the 2008 Ministerial Decree restricting the import of certain products to protect domestic industry.
Judy said the decrease in import volumes would subsequently impact on industrial production levels and employment in the province.
"Several labor-intensive manufacturing industries in the provinces have begun streamlining their employees, laying-off sectors because of the decrease in orders and fewer raw materials," he said.
PT Surabata Containers Terminal (TPS) said the worsening economy had not yet affected loading and unloading activities at Tanjung Perak Seaport because the majority of the goods being traded were linked to deals made before the downturn hit.
"The container terminal will likely begin to feel the crisis in 2009," TPS spokesman Wara Dijatmika said.
"TPS loads and unloads containers from around 130 vessels per day."
He said trade declined in September and October traditionally because of the Idul Fitri celebration.
"The loading and unloading volume normally reaches just over 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and dropped to 80,000 TEUs in October, mainly because businesspeople finish their deals before the Idul Fitri holiday," said Wara.
In a related development, PT Pelindo III has begun modernizing its port facilities and training its employees to operate sophisticated equipment as it prepares to takeover container handling at the ports.
A 2008 shipping law ruled that the company was to takeover operations this year.
"Pelindo III must be provided with modern equipment and skilled workers to serve the public and traders at all the vessels in the port," Pelindo III's director of operation Faris said. (sal)
