Most of the catch comes from waters near the shore and is harvested by fishermen using small boats, despite government-sponsored attempts to modernize the fishing industry. In addition, aquaculture in both brackish and fresh waters, including some paddy fields, contributes to the fish catch. About two thirds of Indonesia is forest and woodland, but many of the forests consist of second-growth trees. Such trees are used primarily for fuelwood, as are the mangroves of low-lying coastal marshes that provide immense quantities of charcoal, the chief domestic fuel in rural areas. Productive stands of virgin rain forest, especially in Borneo, have come under intensive exploitation for sawlogs and veneer logs.
Minerals are the most important Indonesian exports.
Salt, sulfur, asphalt, and coal are mined largely for domestic use. Indonesia also is a major producer of oil and natural gas, as well as petroleum products, and these account for about 40 percent of the value of all its exports. About 587 million barrels of crude petroleum are produced annually, depending on the international demand. Production and refining are controlled by a government corporation, though various international oil companies participate as contractors. Back to Top Manufacturing About 22 percent of the gross domestic product comes from manufacturing.