(Repeats story published late Monday; no change to text)
JAKARTA, July 13 (Reuters) - Indonesia has issued permits to import 50,000 cattle in the third quarter, a trade official said on Monday, less than one-fifth of what was allowed in the previous quarter.
Lower purchases by Indonesia could hurt the cattle industry in Australia, the world's third-largest beef exporter, whose farmers last year supplied around 40 percent of the beef consumed in Indonesia.
"It is based on demand but we are also aware of our local farmers. If we need more, we will add to (the quota)," said Partogi Pangaribuan, ministry's director of foreign trade.
Indonesia initially issued permits to import 250,000 cattle in the second quarter and later issued permits for an additional 29,000 head for the three-month period. ID:nL4N0X51JR
Southeast Asia's largest economy must balance its attempts to become self-sufficient in beef and other foods, as risks of a shortage-induced spike in meat prices could exacerbate the country's inflation woes and further depress the rupiah IDR= , which has lost around 5 percent this year.