Lebanon's imports from Indonesia's up while exports lag far behind

Indonesian's non-oil exports to Lebanon had been increasing, despite the Indonesia economic crisis, says Indonesian news agency Antara.

The agency said Indonesia's non-oil exports to Lebanon increased in 1998 to $68.95 million compared to $47.56 million dollars in 1997.

A spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut said on Tuesday that non-oil commodities included textiles and garments, wood and wooden products, electrical products, glass and glassware, paper and paper products, rubber and rubber products.

According to data from the Lebanese Economic and Trade Ministry, Lebanon's imports from Indonesia have been increasing by 31% in the last five years, while Indonesia's exports to Lebanon in 1994, for instance, reached $21.30 million.

Indonesia exported to Lebanon in 1998 $13.01 million worth of textiles and garments, compared to $11.27 million in 1997. These commodities accounted for 18.18% of Indonesia's total non-oil exports to Lebanon.

Lebanon's imports of Indonesian wood and wooden products had increased in 1998 by 79% from $6.94 million in 1997 to $12.42 million, or 18% of the total exports.

A keen demand was for paper and paper products from Indonesia, which had increased by 212% from $1.77 million in 1997 to $5.51 million in 1998.

The other Indonesian commodities sought in this Mideast country included rubber and rubber products, which increased by 109.3% to $3.58 million in 1998 compared to $1.71 million in 1997.

In the meantime, Lebanon's exports to Indonesia in 1998, reached 5 million dollars, a surplus for Indonesia of 68.955 million dollars.

Indonesia's imports from Lebanon mostly comprised fruits, including dates and apples.