Logistics business players call all parties to optimize the momentum of high export import and the under controlled situation of Covid-19 Pandemic to support the economy recovery.
Chairman of Indonesia Logistics and Forwarders’ Association (ALFI) Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi the increasing export performance that created a positive trade balance remained a momentum for faster economy recovery.
“We must optimize this momentum of positive acceleration of economic recovery. Logistics players remain optimistic that the export-import performance will become better and better,” Yukki said in a press statement, Tuesday, April 19.
Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the March trade balance this year was surplus. Export reached US$ 26.5 billion, increasing 29.42% month to month. The imports, meanwhile, reached US$ 21.97 billion, increasing 32.02% month to month.
According to Yukki, the export-import logistics performance will continue to grow until the Eid al-Fitr 1443 H (2022) and after that it will experience a momentary decline phase due to the Eid holiday.
On the other hand, the enthusiasm of the community to go home / return to their hometown during the Lebaran season this year is massive after two years earlier they did not go home due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.
He said the temporary decline in export-import logistics activities was also influenced by the regulation/limitation of operating hours and the roads that logistics trucks could pass during the Lebaran transportation period this year.
“However, it (decline in logistics activity) will only be temporary. Soon after the Eid Holidays, it will return to normal and even tend to rise again. But approaching the Eid al-Adha in early July, there will be another decline.”
“But , we must anticipate the effects of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The war will create inflation and reduce the people’s purchasing power,” Yukki warned.
Yukki said that the economic growth driven by the performance of national export-import logistics to date is also inseparable from community and business activities in almost all sectors which have returned to normal. “The performance of national logistics will also continue to grow along with the improving conditions of current community activities,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the BPS reported that the value of Indonesia’s exports in March 2022 reached US$26.50 billion, an increase of 29.42 percent compared to exports in February 2022.
Even if compared to March 2021, the export value in March 2022 increased by 44.36 percent.
BPS also stated that non-oil and gas exports in March 2022 reached US$25.09 billion, up 28.82 percent compared to February 2022, and up 43.82 percent compared to non-oil and gas exports in March 2021.
The largest non-oil and gas export in March 2022 was to China at US$5.48 billion, followed by the United States at US$2.83 billion and India at US$2.06 billion, with the contribution of the three reaching 41.34 percent. Meanwhile, exports to ASEAN and the European Union (27 countries) amounted to US$4.98 billion and US$1.86 billion, respectively.
Meanwhile, according to the province of origin, Indonesia’s largest exports in January-March 2022 came from West Java with a value of US$9.58 billion (14.48 percent), followed by East Java with US$6.87 billion (10.39 percent) and East Kalimantan with US$ $6.17 billion (9.33 percent).
The value of Indonesia’s imports in March 2022 reached US$21.97 billion, up 32.02 percent compared to February 2022 or up 30.85 percent compared to March 2021.
Oil and gas imports in March 2022 were worth US$3.49 billion, up 20.33 percent compared to February 2022 or up 53.22 percent compared to March 2021.
For non-oil and gas imports in March 2022 worth US$18.48 billion, up 34.50 percent compared to February 2022 or up 27.34 percent compared to March 2021.