INDONESIA HAS CHANCE TO EXPORT MAIZE

Jakarta, Feb. 14 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has a chance to export maize as maize production in the US has dropped, according to a national businessman.

Maize production in the US fell from 359 million tons in 2007 to 344 million tons in 2007, Director of PT Dupont Indonesia Mardahana said here on Friday.

The maize exports from the UN also plunged from 69 million tons in 2007 to 43.8 tons in 2008, he said.

Indonesia's maize production has increased and the country could reduce its maize imports from the US, he said.

"In fact, Indonesia could export maize and widen its domestic market," he said.
The maize price in the US also increased from Rp1,155 per kg in 2007 to Rp1,716 per kg last year, he said.

The total volume of the world's maize trade last year was recorded at 774 million metric tons.

The total maize volume were 62 percent for cattle fodder, 13 percent for bio-ethanol production and 25 percent for food, he said.

Indonesia produced more than 18 million tons of maize last year, while its maize consumption was around 14 million tons. Among maize producing provinces are Central Java, East Java, Lampung, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi and Gorontalo. ***