Indonesia's agricultural sector continues to demonstrate strong performance. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), agricultural exports in 2023 reached IDR 552.4 trillion, highlighting the robust potential of Indonesia's agricultural products in international markets. This includes both fresh and processed agricultural products, which remain in high demand globally. Despite agricultural imports amounting to USD 7.58 billion as of August 2024, primarily consisting of commodities like wheat and soybeans that thrive in subtropical climates, the overall agricultural sector remains strong. The import value of USD 7.58 billion is equivalent to around IDR 117.4 trillion, significantly lower than the export value of IDR 552.4 trillion in 2023, indicating a substantial surplus.
Mochammad Arief Cahyono, Head of Public Relations and Information Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized that Indonesia's agricultural sector continues to thrive, producing surplus export products such as coffee, cocoa, spices, and palm oil. Under the leadership of Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, the focus is not only on increasing food production but also on enhancing the value of agricultural exports through processing. This strategy aims to strengthen Indonesia's position in global markets and reduce reliance on imports. With a comprehensive approach from upstream to downstream, the Ministry of Agriculture is optimistic about the sector's continued significant contribution to the national economy, driven by both increased exports and the development of a stronger domestic food industry.
