REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- Sculptures and various types of souvenirs made from wood showcasing the creativity of Balinese artists are in high demand in the US market.

The total value of exports reached 24.02 percent of Bali's total exports of souvenirs worth US$ 4.41 million in October this year.

"The Australian market ranked second behind the US market, at 7.41 percent; followed by Japan, at 2.85 percent," Head of Bali's Central Bureau of Statistics' Distribution Statistics Division I Gede Nyoman Subadri stated in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday.

Subadri revealed that the handmade works of art by Balinese artisans and craftsmen are also popular in the Singaporean market, at 2.83 percent; the Chinese market, at 0.60 percent; Hong Kong, at 0.62 percent; Thailand, at 1.14 percent; Germany, at 3.56 percent; and the Netherlands, at 4.16 percent.

The remaining 52.81 percent is exported to various other countries in the world, as it is believed that sculptures and other souvenirs made from wood are highly sought after by consumers across the globe.

Subadri remarked that Bali had shipped US$4.41 million worth of various types of statues and other souvenirs made of wood during the month of October, indicating a rise of $ 675,402, or 9.25 percent, than $ 3.73 million recorded in the previous month.

However, as compared to the same month in the previous year, the figure declined by $ 347,758, or 18.07 percent, as export activities in October 2016 had earned $ 4.76 million worth of foreign exchange.

He further explained that the sales of sculptures and other types of wooden merchandise had contributed 9.25 percent of the total exports of this area, or $ 47.69 million, in October 2017, an increase of $2.72 million, or 6.05 percent, as compared to $ 44.97 million recorded in the previous month.

Furthermore, Bali's total exports as compared to the same month in the previous year had experienced a decline of $ 6.08 million, or 11.31 percent, as in October 2016, the shipments of various types of statues to foreign countries were able to generate a total of $ 53.77 million worth of foreign exchange.

Sculptures and other wooden merchandise are some of the five key commodities in Bali's exports in addition to fish and shrimp that contributed 27.50 percent; non-woven apparel products, at 12.99 percent; jewelry products, or gemstones, at 12.68 percent; as well as furniture products and home lighting, at 7.65 percent.

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