REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The agriculture ministry said Indonesia's imports of red onion declines in four years ending in 2014.

Horticulture Director General Hasanuddin Ibrahim the country's imports of red onion totaled 160,467 ton valued at US$77.44 million in 2011, down to 123,315 tons valued at US$55.13 million in 2012, to 96,139 ton valued at US$54.71 million in 2013 and to 60,023 tons valued at US$23.47 million in 2014.

Meanwhile, exports of the same commodity rose from 13,792 ton in 2011 to 19,196 tons in 2012. In the following two years, exports shrank to 4,982 tons in 2013 and to 394 tons in 2014.

The exports earning rose from US$6.59 million in 2011 to 8.87 million in 2012, but shrank to US$2.98 million in 2013 and to US$169,343 in 2014.

The country's production of the commodity totaled 893,124 tons in 2011 , up to 964,195 tons in 2012 and to 1.01 million tons in 2013 and again to 1.22 million tons in 2014.

A decline production has necessitated an increase in imports.

In 2015, the country's production of red onion is forecast to reach 1.14 million tons or 120,000 tons per month.

Hasanuddin said in the second half of the year, there would be big harvest in production centers especially in Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara that the country is expected to have substantial surplus in July, August and September.

"Therefore, we recommend no imports in the second half of 2015," he said. 

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika