Jakarta - The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded that the country`s exports increased 4.06 percent in May 2010 from 12.52 billion US dollar in April 2010.

     "May 2010`s year-on-year exports went up 36 percent, compare to May 2009," BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said Thursday.

     He considered the export increase was positive as the nation`s exports climbed every month.

     Meanwhile, early last month, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu predicts Indonesia`s non-oil/non-gas export growth in 2010 would reach 8 to 9 percent or higher than the target of 7 - 8.5 percent.

     "The export growth target for 2010 is between 7 and 8.5 percent but the trend now is 9 percent. We are still within the trend or above it. The growth is flat but we are optimistic it will grow 8 to 9 percent this year," she said to newsmen.

     She said although non-oil/non-gas export performance in April dropped 7.13 percent in volume, the value remained high, namely US$9.85 billion.

     The monthly average value of non-oil/non-gas exports in 2010 so far was around US$10 billion, she said.

        "The monthly average export value this year is higher than in 2008. It is up by around 37 percent," she said.

     She said exports in April dropped because demand from destination countries declined due in part to seasonal factors.

     "The month-on- month drop in exports does not reflect the year-long trend. Periodically the growth from January to April is more sustainable," she said.

     The minister said the dominance of 10 prime non-oil/non-gas export products was declining while exports of other products were rising.

     The 10 prime export products are coffee, shrimp, textiles and textile products, footwear, automotive and electronic products, cacao, palmoil, forestry products, rubber and rubber products. .-Antara, 1 July 2010-

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