RI's Imports Up 1.6 Pct In May

Jakarta, July 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesia`s imports rose slightly by 1.61 percent to US$17.21 billion in May 2012 from US$16.94 billion a month earlier, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said. "The increase was chiefly fueled by non-oil/non-gas imports which rose by 6.13 percent or US$675.2 million," BPS Chief Suryamin said here on Monday. Compared to the same period last year, the May 2012 imports surged 16.09 percent, he said. However, oil and gas imports fell 12.44 percent to US$2.61 billion in May 2012 from US$4.12 billion in the previous month, he said. "The decline in oil and gas imports was caused by a shortfall in crude oil and gas imports which reached US$117.1 million and US$454.5 million respectively, while oil product imports slightly rose by 2.26 percent or US$49.2 million," he said. Cumulatively, Indonesia`s imports in the first five months of 2012 reached US$79.90 billion, a 16.62 percent increase compared to US$68.51 billion in the same period last year. "Non-oil/non-gas imports in the January-May 2012 period reached US$61.65 billion, up 17.39 percent from US$52.51 billion in the same period last year," he said. Meanwhile, oil and gas imports in the year to May 31, 2012 rose 14.09 percent to US$18.25 billion from US$16 billion in the same period last year, he said. During the first five months of 2012, Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas imports from China reached US$11.89 billion, accounting for 19.29 percent of its overall imports. This was followed by Japan US$9.66 billion (15.67 percent), and Thailand US$4.37 billion (7.67 percent). He said non-oil/non-gas imports from other ASEAN member countries reached US$13.39 billion or 21.72 percent and European Union were valued at US$5.45 billion or 8.84 percent. Machine and mechanical appliance imports dominated the non-oil/non-gas imports in the January-May 2012 period, accounting for 18.52 percent of the total, followed by electrical machines and appliances 12.6 percent, iron and steel 7.13 percent, motor vehicles and spare parts 6.53 percent, organic chemicals 4.9 percent.