Indonesia's rubber-based product export rose by 3 percent to 2.53 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2006 compared with the same period of last year.

Rubber export volume also increased by 4.76 percent to 1.1 million tons, Bisnis Indonesia newspaper reported Thursday.

Rubber is among 10 selected prime commodities that would receive government support through the priority export program.

The Indonesian Rubber Industries Association (Gapkindo) has targeted full year rubber export at 2 million tons worth 4.4 billion dollars in 2006.

The higher export is partly attributable to the increase in international rubber price to 2.3 dollars per kg from 1.7 dollars last year.

Source: Xinhua