The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of North Maluku recorded that the value of North Maluku's exports for May 2023 reached IDR 12.6 trillion, with the trade sector dominating and showing a positive growth of 3.44% compared to April 2023. According to the Head of The Central Statistics Agency of North Maluku, in May 2023 exports increased by 3.44% compared to April 2023, with a value of USD 812.48 million, and the export growth trend during the month of May from 2021 to 2022 follows a similar pattern to May 2023, which consistently shows an increase, especially through the trade sector.
Furthermore, when compared to the same month in the years 2021 to 2023, the growth pattern remains the same, although the growth has increased. However, the leading export commodities of North Maluku, such as iron and steel, experienced a decline in May 2023. Moreover, China remains the primary destination for North Maluku's exports, amounting to USD 833.61 million or 99.18%. It was also mentioned that the trade sector, such as fish, shrimp, and damar, is the target for exports to several countries via Jakarta and East Java. Furthermore, iron and steel, which have always been a prominent commodity, experienced a decline in May 2023 due to a decrease in both export volume and price. North Maluku's imports in May 2023 showed an increase of 112.1%, amounting to USD 348.75 million. The main imported commodities or goods category was machinery and electrical equipment, accounting for 591.6%. Similar to the export destination, China continues to dominate North Maluku's imports, with 89.95% or USD 313.71 million.
