• Ceramic Industry of Indonesia Remains Under Pressure in 2017

    The ceramic industry of Indonesia remains under pressure in 2017 due to low demand from the property sector and the high gas price. Therefore, there are reports that various ceramic producers have (temporarily) closed their factories and are now active as traders only. Elisa Sinaga, Chairman of the Indonesian Ceramic Industry Association (ASAKI), urges the government to lower gas prices immediately in order to support the nation's ceramic industry. Gas prices account for between 30 - 40 percent of Indonesian ceramic producers' total production costs.

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  • Mining News: Indonesia's Coal Price Falls Again in March 2017

    For the third consecutive month Indonesia's benchmark coal price declined. This price (in Indonesian: Harga Batubara Acuan, or HBA), which is based on a selection of domestic and international coal indices, is set on a monthly basis by Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. For March 2017, the HBA was set at USD $81.90 per metric ton, down 19.5 percent from its recent peak of USD $101.69 per ton in December 2016.

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  • Indonesia's Foreign Exchange Reserves Rise in February 2017

    Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, announced that the nation's foreign exchange reserves had grown to USD 119.9 billion at end-February 2017, up from USD $116.9 billion in the preceding month (and the third straight month of growth). The increase was primarily attributed to foreign exchange receipts, which includes tax revenues and the government's oil & gas export proceeds. The rise was also possible on the back of the withdrawal of government foreign loans as well as the auction of Bank Indonesia foreign exchange bills (SBBI).

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  • King Salman's Visit to Boost Middle Eastern Tourists to Indonesia?

    Earlier this week it was announced by the Saudi Embassy that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia decided to extend his holiday on Indonesia's island of Bali by three days. After signing 11 agreements on partnerships between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia with regard to various sectors, ranging from security to oil and gas, King Salman - who brought an entourage of 1,500 people to Indonesia - can now enjoy the beauty of Bali, the most popular holiday destination of foreign tourists in Indonesia.

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