Indonesia's overseas sales weakened by 2.36 percent to US$9.01 billion in the month compared to the same period last year, deputy for Statistic distribution and services of the agency Ali Rosidi announced.

The global financial routs have hit the sectors of textiles, coal, steel and palm oil rubbers and other commodities in Indonesia since October.

Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer and the world's second biggest rubber maker.

The weakening of global demand has made the authorities to rely more on domestic market in the country with over 2230 million population and diversify export market destination.

The country's export is predicted to continuously plunge this year as the deepening impact of the global recession would further slump demands from the emerging markets, including Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for Economy Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.

The minister said that that the overseas sales would only grow between 6 to 7 percent in 2009, far below the exports percentages in the last several years which grew more than averages of 13 percent.

Indonesia's export in 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively grew by 13.20 percent, 17.67 percent, 19.66 percent, 17.29 percent, according to data from the statistic agency.

Total imports, including imports into bonded zones, were US$8.72 billion in November.

The government has forecast the economy could grow to the lowest pace of 4.5 percent this year and the World Bank forecast to 4.4 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2009)