INDONESIA’S INTEREST IN EXPORTING NATURAL HONEY TO MALAYSIA IN 2016-2020

Abstract

This study explains that there has been an increase in exports of Indonesian natural honey to Malaysia from 2016-2020. However, it is different from the amount of domestic natural honey production which experiences very significant fluctuations. Even in 2020, the amount of Indonesia’s natural honey exports to Malaysia exceeds the amount of domestic natural honey production. The interests and reasons why Indonesia continues to increase the amount of natural honey exports to Malaysia amid fluctuating domestic natural honey production are the questions in this research.
The author collects data from books, academic journals, theses and sources from the internet related to research issues regarding Indonesia's interests in exporting forest honey to Malaysia. the author uses the perspective of liberalism and the level of analysis of the nation state. While the theory used in this research is the theory of international trade.
The results of this study indicate that the reasons for Indonesia continuing to increase natural honey exports to Malaysia amid fluctuating production are due to the high demand for Indonesian natural honey in the Malaysian market, the low consumption of honey in Indonesia and brand honey domination of natural honey in Indonesia. In addition, Indonesia also has objectives of interest one of which is to improve the Indonesian economy. In addition to meet the demand for domestic honey consumption, Indonesia imports honey from Thailand at a lower price and quality, so that even if Indonesia continues to increase exports of natural honey to Malaysia, this don’t affect the demand for domestic honey consumption.

Keywords: Non-Timber Forest Products, National Interest, fluctuation, Forest Honey, Market Demand