North Sumatra's Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reports that fats and oils, both animal and vegetable, were the leading export commodities from the province, accounting for 33.57% of total exports in July. These commodities, including crude palm oil (CPO), are key industrial raw materials. Asim Saputra, Head of BPS North Sumatra, highlighted that fats and oils, along with various chemical products, continue to dominate North Sumatra's export market, reinforcing the industrial sector's significant export share. In July, the industrial sector contributed a substantial 92.76% to the region's exports, an increase from 92.51% in June. Meanwhile, the agricultural sector contributed 7.24% to the province's exports during the same period. North Sumatra's export value in July reached USD 969.75 million.
The export value in July marked a 12.59% increase compared to June 2024, although it showed a slight decline of 0.03% year-on-year compared to July 2023. Asian countries outside ASEAN remain the largest importers of raw materials from North Sumatra, with a share of 42.64%, equivalent to USD 413.53 million. China followed with a 19.78% share, totaling USD 191.80 million, and the United States accounted for 12.63% of exports, valued at USD 122.46 million. Additionally, North Sumatra exported industrial raw materials and agricultural commodities to ASEAN countries and India, representing 12.03% and 8.03% of the province's total exports, respectively.
