Cambodia, Indonesia's Largest Export Destination for Kretek Cigarettes

Kretek cigarettes, a processed tobacco product, are one of Indonesia's export commodities. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the volume of Indonesian kretek cigarette exports reached 77.75 million kilograms (kg) from January to November 2021.

This volume represents a 3.96% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year, which totaled 80.95 million kg. Meanwhile, the value of kretek cigarette exports from January to November 2021 was reported at US$ 681.35 million, down 2.98% compared to the same period in the previous year, which amounted to US$ 702.26 million.

Southeast Asian countries constitute the largest market share for Indonesian kretek cigarette exports. Cambodia is recorded as the largest export destination, reaching 25.5 million kg (US$ 171.9 million).

The Philippines is next with an export volume of 14.6 million kg (US$ 117.7 million). Exports to Singapore amounted to 11.8 million kg (US$ 60.8 million).

A total of 6.2 million kg (US$ 62.3 million) of kretek cigarettes were exported to Malaysia. Meanwhile, kretek cigarette exports to Vietnam and Thailand were 5.7 million kg (US$ 108.7 million) and 3.07 million kg (US$ 30.36 million), respectively.

Kretek cigarettes are cigarettes made from dried, authentic Indonesian tobacco blended with cloves. Kretek cigarettes originated in Kudus and its products remain famous to this day.

(Read More: Period January-November 2021, Tobacco Processing Industry Exports Down 3.87%)