Bali's Exports Slightly Up

Denpasar, Bali, April 22 (Antara) - Bali`s exports in the first two months of this year rose slightly by 0.06 percent to US$79.34 million from US$78.30 million in the same period last year. Small-scale industry including handicraft industry led the exports, contributing 66.62 percent of the overall foreign exchange earnings, spokesman of the Bali provincial government I Ketut Teneng said here on Tuesday. He said small-scale industry contributed US$28.64 million to the total exports in the January-February 2014 period, a 5.29 percent increase compared to US$27.20 million in the same period last year. The handicraft industry at household level produced US$30.72 million, down 2.35 percent from US$39.67 million. Ketut Teneng said the handicraft exports represented 38.72 percent of the overall exports in the first two months of 2014. Meanwhile, plantation products contributed US$370,186.58, fruits US$682.85, and aquatic products US$19.39 million to the total exports. For all of 2013, Bali exported US$486.06 million worth of commodities, up 0.88 percent from US$481.83 million a year earlier. Exports from the small scale industry including handicraft continued to lead the province`s foreign exchange coffers, contributing 75.07 percent of the total exports, he said.