JAKARTA: Cotton imports by the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia decreased by 2.16 per cent in 2014, according to the data from Statistics Indonesia.
During the year, Indonesia imported cotton (HS Code 52) worth US$ 2.499 billion, compared to imports valued at $2.554 billion in 2013.
In December 2014, Indonesia’s cotton imports increased by 11.83 per cent to $224.9 million over imports of $201.1 million made in November 2014.Cotton imports constituted 1.85 per cent of all non-oil and gas imports made by Indonesia last year.
Indonesia imports cotton for its flourishing textile and clothing industry, which makes a significant contribution to the country’s economy, in the form of providing employment as well as earning foreign exchange.
The textile sector employment in Indonesia is estimated at about 1.55 million, and another 570,000 people are employed in the apparel sector. (RKS)
