Indonesia targets stronger seafood exports with 2026 strategy

Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has unveiled a 2026 strategy to strengthen seafood exports, helping local businesses meet new US and EU certification requirements while expanding into global markets.

KKP’s Director of Marketing at the Directorate General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP), Erwin Dwiyana, said the ministry will assist exporters in complying with EU catch certificate and processing statement rules, as well as US Certificate of Admissibility requirements.

“We are encouraging seafood businesses to maintain high product quality and safety while promoting sustainability and global competitiveness,” Dwiyana stated.

The ministry is also negotiating US approval for Indonesia’s gillnet-caught crab under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Comparability Finding, aimed at preventing export delays under new regulations.

Other initiatives include trade missions, international product promotions, and business matchmaking events.

Exporters are encouraged to leverage zero-per-cent tariffs under the Indonesia–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJ-EPA) for processed tuna and skipjack, effective after Q1 2026.

Tariff reduction talks are ongoing with partners in North America, South Asia, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Latin America.

Indonesia’s seafood exports reached US$6.27 billion in 2025, up 5.2 per cent from the previous year.

The United States was the largest market at US$1.99 billion, led by shrimp exports worth US$1.87 billion.

According to the national statistics agency BPS, Indonesia’s fishery trade surplus stood at US$5.6 billion in 2025, a 3 per cent increase year-on-year.