Mineral ores export rises after policy relaxation: Minister

By Bambang Atmaja

Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said that the country?s mineral ores exports have increased since the government relaxed the export policy on August 23 by lifting the export quota on mineral ores.

?There has been a rise. It (mineral ores export) has started to increase,? he told Petromindo.com on Tuesday at the State Palace, but fell short of disclose the size of increase or export volume.

Gita sees mineral ores export volume to continue to rise over the next few months. The government has relaxed the policy on mineral ores export as part of temporary fiscal measures to help cope with the widening current account deficit and weakening rupiah. The export quota was put in place last year to help avoid a rush in export ahead of the planned export ban in 2014.

The government, however, has said that the planned ban on export of raw mineral ores starting next year will still be applied.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak