North Sulawesi exports nutmeg to Europe and United States

Manado, N Sulawesi, June 25 (Antara) - The North Sulawesi industry and trade office said the province had exported nutmeg to Europe and the United States. "So far this year, exports of that commodity to the United States totaled 20 tons valued at US$195,000," head of the foreign trade division of the office T Hasudungan Siregar said here on Thursday. Hasudungan said exports to Europe included to Italy, Spain and the Netherlands totaling 48.7 tons valued at US$415,072. Exports to Italy reached 14.7 tons, to Spain 14 tons and to the Netherlands 14 tons, he said. He said North Sulawesi's nutmeg is high in demand in international market especially in Europe and the United States because of the high quality. The largest nutmeg producing district in the province is the district of Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Islands. He said the government hopes that the farmers could maintain good quality in order to boost exports. Meanwhile, head of the industry and trade office Jenny Karouw said the market of coconut flour from North Sulawesi has also expanded. More countries have shown interest in coconut flour from the provinces, Jenny said here on Thursday, For the first time Algeria has imported coconut flour reaching 100 tons valued at US$186,436 from the province, she said. She said coconut and coconut flour have been exported to various countries in the world including in Asian, Europe and America, and now to Algeria in Africa. The growing exports market indicated that the quality of the products from North Sulawesi is highly competitive, Jenny said. Coconut and derivatives have become a major export earners for the province, she said, adding the market of the commodities is expected to continue to expand. The farmers, therefore, should be careful to maintain the quality, she said, adding, "We should not disappoint buyers or they would turn away from us."