Tiger Shrimp Leads East Kalimantan’s Seafood Push to Global Markets

RRI.CO.ID, Samarinda - East Kalimantan’s seafood exports are making waves in global markets, with shrimp leading the charge. Between January and May 2026, the province shipped hundreds of tons of premium aquaculture products to 12 international destinations, underscoring its growing role in the maritime economy.

“Tiger shrimp has been the dominant commodity, with export volumes reaching 769.9 tons over the past five months, valued at IDR 173.3 billion,” Head of Aquaculture and Product Competitiveness at the East Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Office, Irma Listiawati, said in Samarinda on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Irma noted that four other flagship products also bolstered export performance: pink shrimp, fresh grouper, fresh pomfret, and white shrimp. Pink shrimp shipments totaled 239.2 tons worth IDR 31.6 billion, while fresh grouper exports reached 89.3 tons, generating IDR 7.4 billion. Fresh pomfret recorded 59.7 tons valued at IDR 6.7 billion, and white shrimp added 27.7 tons with earnings of IDR 4.7 billion.

“These high-quality seafood products are routinely distributed to key markets such as Japan, the United States, Taiwan, China, and Malaysia,” she explained.

To ensure freshness, East Kalimantan has established direct air cargo routes from Balikpapan to Wenzhou, China. Operated twice weekly by Rimbun Cargo aircraft, the service is dedicated to perishable premium products including eels, crabs, and fresh fish.

By combining strong demand with efficient logistics, East Kalimantan is positioning its aquaculture sector as a reliable supplier to the global seafood industry. ***