Indonesia coal exports rise in 2003

Twelve coal producers saw a rise in their exports in 2003, pushing Indonesia's total coal exports up to 85.61 million tons last year from 74.1 million tons in 2002, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported Tuesday.

The 12 companies among others are PT Adaro Indonesia, PT Arutmin Indonesia, PT Kideco Jaya Agung, PT Indominco Mandiri, PT Berau Coal, PT Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku, PT Gunung Bayan Pratama Coal, PT Jorong Barutama Greston and PT Lanna Harita Indonesia, the paper quoted as saying a report released by the Director General of Geology and Mineral Resources.

Adaro's coal exports rose to 14.40 million tons in 2003 from the previous year's 12.69 million tons, Arutmin to 13.36 million tons from 9.86 million tons, and Kideco to 8.6 million tons from 6.75 million tons.

Indominco exported 6.03 million tons of coal last year, up from 5.33 million tons in 2002. Berau's coal exports rose to 5.19 million tons from 5.07 million tons.

Bisnis Indonesia, however, did not mention the export volumes of the other seven coal producers whose exports rose in 2003.

The paper said further that six coal producers saw their exports falling in 2003 including PT Kaltim Prima Coal which shipped 15.93 million tons, down from the previous year's 16.63 million tons.

The paper quoted analysts as saying that last year's coal export rise was due to the increasing price of the commodity on the world market. Coal sold for US$34 per ton last December, they said. (*)