According to the latest data from Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, the nation's coal production reached 163.4 million tons in the first half of 2018. This may seem a very low figure considering the Indonesian government targets national coal production at (a maximum of) 485 million in full-year 2018 (and not unoften this target is exceeded as local coal companies are eager to boost sales, particularly in times of high coal prices).

Lanjut baca ›

Indonesia's tobacco production, prepared from the leaves of the tobacco plant, heavily depends on weather conditions. If weather conditions are normal in 2018, then Indonesia should be able to produce up to 200,000 tons of tobacco. However, if there occurs unconducive weather (a prolonged rainy season or short dry season), then it is difficult to predict Indonesia's 2018 tobacco production.

Lanjut baca ›

Cement consumption in Indonesia fell to 5.27 million tons in January 2017, down 2.3 percent year-on-year (y/y) from the same month one year ago. This decline was blamed on the intense rainfall in the nation's regions that managed to obstruct progress with various projects. Widodo Santoso, Chairman of the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI), said the decline in cement demand was seen in nearly all regions, including Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Nusa Tenggara.

Lanjut baca ›

The June 2016 reference thermal coal price of Indonesia (in Indonesian: Harga Batubara Acuan, HBA), a price set by Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on a monthly basis, rose 1.3 percent month-on-month to USD $51.81 per metric ton (FOB). In line with our earlier predictions, Indonesia's coal price has been stabilizing just above the USD $50 per ton level so far this year, supported by miners' decision to cut output amid low coal prices. Meanwhile, coal prices in Europe surged to the highest level in ten months, buoyed by rising fuel prices as well as supply disruptions.

Lanjut baca ›

Inflation is under control in Indonesia. Based on the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Indonesian inflation eased to 3.60 percent (y/y) in April 2016, well within the target range of the nation's central bank and central government. However, inflationary pressures in Southeast Asia's largest economy may rise in the second half of the year because there is a big chance that the El Nino weather phenomenon is to be followed by the La Nina weather phenomenon. Both weather phenomenons impact heavily on Indonesia's agricultural output.

Lanjut baca ›

The Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jakarta predicts that Indonesia's capital city may be plagued by a big flood in February 2016. The city has been seeing more rainfall in recent weeks and rainfall is expected to intensify and to reach its peak in February according to both the BPBD and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG). In late January and February rainfall may be more than 100 millimeter per day but there are also estimates that rainfall can rise up to 380 millimeters in one day. This could cause a major flood.

Lanjut baca ›

The ongoing forest fires on parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, brought about by people's slash-and-burn practices to clear land for palm oil and paper industries, are now labelled a crime against humanity by global media while Indonesia has turned into the world's largest daily carbon dioxide emissions surpassing China and the USA. The severe haze that has been plaguing parts of Southeast Asia brings health problems, economic costs and bad publicity amid a time when most countries are teaming up to combat global warming.

Lanjut baca ›

Apart from the Indonesian rupiah which has hit its weakest level since the Asian Financial Crisis 17 years ago, the ongoing El Nino (the weather phenomenon that brings drought to Southeast Asia) may be the strongest since 1997-1998. This means that output of agricultural commodities is to decline (but which should have a positive impact on prices). Coffee production in Indonesia is estimated to fall by seven percent to 581,000 metric tons in 2016 from an estimated 625,000 tons this year.

Lanjut baca ›

Indonesian state news agency Antara reported that the El Nino weather phenomenon has begun to affect several parts of the country. El Nino, which occurs once every five years on average, causes climatic changes across the Pacific Ocean leading to droughts in Southeast Asia and therefore has a major impact on harvests of agricultural commodities. Moreover, due to the shortage of rain, it is easier for fires to damage the environment. Antara reported that in Banten (West Java) as well as in Riau and Jambi (Sumatra) these effects are felt.

Lanjut baca ›

Semakin kuat dugaan bahwa fenomena cuaca El Nino akan berdampak pada Indonesia dalam beberapa bulan mendatang. Selama beberapa minggu terakhir ini muncul beberapa laporan mengenai cuaca kering yang ganjil dan memberikan dampak negatif pada panen dan komoditi agrikultur di sejumlah wilayah Asia Tenggara. Di Indonesia, cuaca kering pada umumnya terjadi dari bulan Mei sampai Agustus. Meskipun begitu, El Nino mungkin menyebabkan cuaca yang lebih hangat dan memperpanjang musim kering sampai September dan karenanya mempengaruhi produksi di puncak musim panen. Hal ini akan mengurangi hasil produksi agrikultur dan menyebabkan tekanan inflasi.

Lanjut baca ›

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology is increasingly convinced that the world needs to prepare for a new El Niño cycle. According to the institution, the impact of this new cycle will be felt starting from July 2014 and may continue through the winter. Also the European Center for Medium range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) and the US Climate Prediction Center stated that chances of a new El Niño cycle in 2014 are becoming higher, although it is too early to provide an indication of this year's strength of the weather phenomenon.

Lanjut baca ›

The price of crude palm oil (CPO), which has been under downward pressure for a long time as global turmoil lingers on, started to rebound due to falling stockpiles in Indonesia and Malaysia. Reserves of the commodity fell because of weather conditions and because of an increase in demand ahead of the Islamic fasting month (Ramadhan). The price of crude palm oil is expected to hit the USD $900 per ton mark in late 2013, up from USD $828-865 per ton in May and June. This price recovery is expected to continue.

Lanjut baca ›