• Indonesian Palm Oil Exports and Production Grow but El Nino is Looming

    Indonesian crude palm oil (CPO) exports may have increased 3.4 percent (month-to-month) to 1.85 million metric tons in April 2014 according to the median forecast of five analysts and traders compiled by Bloomberg. Exports are forecast to increase as buyers boost purchases ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month Ramadan in June and Idul Fitri celebrations. These festivities always trigger increased demand for palm oil. If this projection is accurate, it would imply that Indonesian CPO exports in April are the highest since December 2013.

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  • Company Profile of HM Sampoerna: Indonesia's Largest Tobacco Company

    HM Sampoerna, the largest tobacco company of Indonesia, controls about 29 percent of the Indonesian tobacco market. The company operates nine manufacturing facilities in Indonesia: two machine-made kretek production facilities as well as seven hand-rolled kretek production facilities (kretek cigarettes are the highly popular clove cigarettes, a trademark of Indonesia). The company also distributes the famous Marlboro brand on the domestic market. In 2005, Sampoerna was sold to Philip Morris, an international cigarette and tobacco giant.

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  • Growth of Residential Property Prices in Indonesia Still Slowing in Q1-2014

    The Residential Property Price Survey still indicates slowing growth of Indonesian residential property prices (in the primary market) in the first quarter of 2014. The Residential Property Price Index grew 1.45 percent (quarter to quarter) in the first quarter of 2014 or 7.92 percent year-on-year, lower than the growth that was recorded in the previous quarter of 1.77 percent (qtq) or 11.51 percent (yoy). The slowdown occurred in all types of homes, but in particular the medium and large homes segment.

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  • PDI-P Declares Coalition & Jokowi's Candidacy; Rupiah and Stocks Surge

    Both the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate and the country's benchmark stock index (known as the Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) have strengthened significantly on Wednesday's trading day (14/05). The rupiah appreciated 0.76 percent to IDR 11,450 per US dollar by 15:00 local Jakarta time according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index. Meanwhile, the IHSG gained 1.09 percent to 4,975.13 by the same time. Main reason for this strong performance is the official declaration of the PDI-P to form a coalition with NasDem and PKB.

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