Betting on higher prices for top commodities and the emergence of new markets, the country’s plantation industry is seeking to buck the trend and expects export values this year to increase by 16 percent. “We believe we can raise our income from exports to US$21.68 billion from last year’s $18.85 billion. This is based on the fact there are new markets available and we believe main commodities prices will improve,” Herdrajat, the Agriculture Ministry’s plantation protection director, said Saturday.
He cited China, the Middle East and India as some of the new export markets.
“Last year’s achievement, which surpassed the original target of $11.55 billion income set in early 2008, was also a big factor in our confidence to increase this year’s exports” he added.
Indonesia is home to plantations of some of the world’s key commodities, i...