Where are Indonesia's Marine Products Exported?

With an expanse of ocean spanning 3.25 million km² — around 62% of the country's total area — Indonesia is blessed with an extraordinary abundance of marine resources. Home to thousands of species of fish and other marine life, Indonesia is one of the world's largest producers of seafood. Although Indonesia is not among the top 10 global fish exporters, Indonesian seafood has reached international markets, including Asia, America, and Europe.

So, where are Indonesia's marine products exported? The list below includes some of the main destinations and interesting facts about them.

China, the world's largest producer of fish, is the main importer of Indonesian fishery products. In 2024, around 36% (518 thousand tons) of Indonesia's fish exports were sent to China, reaching a value of USD 1.24 billion.

However, despite the large volume, the value of exports to China is still lower than that to the United States. This is because China imports more processed raw materials, such as frozen shrimp and seaweed, which are cheaper than ready-to-eat products.

Next is Japan, which imported 111 thousand tons of Indonesian fish, primarily fresh and processed tuna for sushi and sashimi, worth USD 598 million. ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore) remained the main importers, purchasing a total of 270 thousand tons of Indonesian fishery products in 2024.

More specifically, here are some of Indonesia's main export commodities in high demand in the global market. Shrimp had the highest export value throughout the year (USD 1.72 billion in 2023), although it decreased by 19.8% from the previous year due to global price fluctuations. Tuna, tongkol, and cakalang (TTC) worth 203,000 tons are in high demand from restaurants in Japan and Europe. Squid and octopus are in high demand in South Korea and Italy. Rumput laut adalah bahan baku industri kosmetik, makanan, dan farmasi. Crab and lobster are also exported to the US and China.

The exported products are diverse, ranging from fresh, frozen, and processed products, such as fish fillets, to ready-to-eat products, such as canned fish and shrimp crackers.

Therefore, on this National Maritime Day, it is important to recognize that Indonesia has the second largest EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) in the world, but its utilization is not optimal. It is necessary to increase technology for sustainable fishing and cultivation to prevent overfishing. Additionally, proper export and import policies can increase the added value of fishery products.

The sea is Indonesia's future. With responsible management, our marine resources will meet global market demand and preserve the ecosystem for future generations.

Happy National Marine Day!

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