The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the export value of West Papua Province in May 2024 reached USD 360.03 million, marking an increase of 98.67% year-on-year compared to May 2023, which was USD 181.22 million. "The monthly export value also rose by 8.33% compared to April 2024, which realized USD 332.34 million," said West Papua BPS Head Merry during a press conference in Manokwari on Monday. She explained that the oil and gas (migas) sector contributed 99.45%, or USD 358.06 million, to the total exports of West Papua in May 2024, while the non-oil and gas sector contributed only 0.55%, or USD 1.96 million. The export value of oil and gas commodities increased by 8.52% month-on-month, or USD 28.10 million, compared to April 2024's achievement of USD 329.96 million.
In contrast, non-oil and gas exports contracted by 15.86% month-on-month. "The oil and gas export commodities include mineral fuels, while the non-oil and gas commodities encompass jewelry, salt, sulfur, lime, meat and its products, fish, shrimp, and others," she explained. She mentioned that the three largest export destinations were China, with USD 151.11 million or 41.97% of total exports in May 2024, followed by Japan with USD 75.29 million, and South Korea with USD 63.07 million. Other countries that were also export markets for West Papua included Vietnam with USD 35.31 million, Thailand with USD 33.31 million, Hong Kong with USD 0.81 million, Papua New Guinea with USD 0.37 million, and the United States with USD 0.28 million. "Exports to China and Japan decreased by 16.05% month-on-month and 30.68% month-on-month, respectively, due to increased demand from other countries," she explained. West Papua's export commodities were shipped through Teluk Bintuni Port at 99.45%, followed by Manokwari Port, Tanjung Perak Port, Tanjung Priok Port, and Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
