The Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi) on June 19 released a report that the country spent US$5.51 million on imports of food and beverage from Vietnam in the reviewed period.

The association said the country’s imports of food and beverage from other ASEAN nations continue increasing in recent months thanks to the lifting of taxation following the regional free trade agreement (AFTA) and efforts by the Indonesian government and relevant agencies in fighting smuggling.

Malaysia continues to be the largest exporter of the staples to Indonesia with an export value of US$20.6 million, an increase of 76.17 percent, making up over 23 percent of Indonesia’s food and beverage imports.

Indonesia also imported US$7.48 million worth of foods and beverage from Singapore in the period, a year-on-year increase of 29.1 percent.