KBRN, Jakarta: Frozen fish exports from Maluku Province soared by an astonishing 1,187 percent in September 2025, reaching a total value of IDR 90.56 billion (approximately USD 5.76 million), according to data from the Indonesian National Quarantine Agency (Barantin) via the Maluku Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center (BKHIT). The figure marks a dramatic increase compared to the previous month.

Head of Maluku Quarantine, Abdur Rohman, reported in Ambon on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, that frozen fish exports in September totaled 1,137,126 kilograms, a sharp rise from August’s 56,222 kilograms valued at IDR 7.03 billion.

“This achievement reflects a significant increase in export value, up to 1,187 percent. It’s a positive indicator of Maluku’s fisheries export performance,” he said, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Maluku’s frozen fish exports were dominated by high-value commodities such as tuna and vaname shrimp, both of which are in strong demand internationally.

Rohman noted that frozen tuna, exported whole and in loin cuts, remains a flagship product due to consistent orders from countries including Japan, the United States, and Vietnam.

Frozen vaname shrimp contributed the largest share of export value, recognized for its premium quality and sourced from Maluku’s pristine waters, which support sustainable aquaculture.

Other commodities such as grouper and mangrove crab were also exported, both live and frozen, to meet market demand in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China.

This diversity underscores the vast potential of Maluku’s fisheries sector as a key driver of the regional economy and a significant contributor to Indonesia’s marine exports.

Conversely, exports of live fish saw a sharp decline of 78.8 percent compared to August. In September, only 11,986 live fish were exported, valued at IDR 3.31 billion (approximately USD 199,611), down from 56,625 tails worth IDR 8.18 billion (approximately USD 493,236) the previous month.

Rohman reported that in September 2025, Maluku exported 36,486 kilograms of tuna, generating IDR 4.69 billion.

Vaname shrimp dominated the export volume, with over 1.1 million kilograms shipped abroad, valued at IDR85.86 billion. In the live seafood category, Maluku exported 5,412 mangrove crabs worth IDR 357.87 million and 6,574 live groupers, which generated IDR 2.94 billion.

Export destinations included the United States, Vietnam, China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Rohman emphasized that all exported products undergo rigorous quarantine procedures to ensure health and food safety, an essential step in maintaining Indonesia’s reputation in global markets.

“We hope Maluku’s fisheries products continue to compete internationally. We ensure that all commodities leaving Maluku are healthy, disease-free, and meet the requirements of destination countries,” he said.

He added that BKHIT Maluku plays a dual role: protecting biological resources and serving as the frontline in safeguarding the trust of foreign trading partners in the quality of Indonesian fisheries products. ***