North Sumatra's exports surged 28.52 percent in December 2024

The export value through loading ports in North Sumatra Province rose by 3.24 percent month-to-month (mtm) from US$957.86 million in November 2024 to US$988.9 million by December 2024.

"Compared to December 2023, North Sumatra's exports increased by 28.52 percent," said Statistics Indonesia (BPS) North Sumatra Asim Saputra in a monthly meeting at his office on Feb. 3, 2025.

He added that, the group of goods that experienced the largest decline in exports was animal and vegetable fats and oils as it was was down by 8.83 percent, or US$32.44 million. In second place in decline is soap and cleaning preparations group of commodities, which fell by 19.18 percent or US$9.33 million.

Meanwhile, the group of goods with the highest increase in exports was food industry waste and residue that soared by 208.63 percent or US$42.54 million, followed by the various chemical products group of commodities which increased by 15.2 percent or US$19.86 million.

The United States was the main destination country with North Sumatra's export value to the country reaching US$148.01 million, followed by China with US$139.19 million and India with US$54.67 million.

"These three countries contributed 34.57 percent of North Sumatra's total exports,"Asim said.

Regionally, North Sumatra's largest exports are still directed to the Asian region outside of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with a total value of 34.97 percent or US$345.87 million. The increase in exports showed a positive trend for North Sumatra's international trade, although there are still fluctuations in several main commodities.