August 2, 2012

Indonesia's fish exports set to increase this year

After a strong growth to US$3.5 billion last year, Indonesia's fishery products exports are forecast to reach US$4.2 billion this year.

The export earning last year represented a 22.95% growth from the previous year, fisheries and maritime minister Sharif C. Sutardjo said.

"We are set to keep the growing trend this year," Sharif said last night in Surabaya, East Java.

The main countries of destination of the fish exports include the US, to which exports were valued at US$1.07 billion and Japan to which exports were valued at US$806 million.

He told leaders of fishing companies good quality is a key factor to success in fish marketing. He said the world demand for fishery products is expected to continue to climb opening greater opportunity for an increase in export.

China alone is predicted to need around two million tonnes of fishes next year, he cited. He said East Java is one of potential areas to develop fishery industry, adding that province has 130 fish processing units with 119 of them already holding quality and security certificate.

The certificate is required in exporting fishes abroad. In 2011, East Java exported 341,775 tonnes of fish valued at US$1.31 billion.

In the first six months of the year, exports from that province were recorded at 159,415 tonnes valued at US$514.5 million.