Indonesia moves to ease high loading costs at sea ports

The Indonesian government has taken measures to reduce high prices charged on products during loading and unloading processes in sea ports in a bid to boost competitiveness of the products at export markets, a senior minister disclosed here on Tuesday.

The move came as the government has been successful in declining dwelling time to three and a half days in sea ports from nearly seven days.

"We have reviewed costs in the sea ports. The costs are still considered expensive now," Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said at his office.

Taking the terminal handling charge as an example, Luhut said that the cost was high, up to 33 percent and 28 percent of total costs spent by exporters or importers in sea ports, he said.

Indonesia aims to boost competitiveness of its exported products as the country has been attempting to expand export markets.

President Joko Widodo has unveiled a series of regulations to help boost exports of the country.

The natural resources-rich country has enjoyed rising shipment of products overseas amid rising global oil prices.

Indonesia is the world's biggest exporter of crude palm oil, thermal coal, and the world's third biggest exporter of rubber and cocoa, as well as home to the world's second-biggest copper mine. Endit