ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia has officially exported 10 containers of certified Cesium-137-free shrimp to the United States, marking a major step in restoring confidence in Indonesian shrimp products following the enforcement of Import Alert #99-52 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).
The shipment—comprising four containers from Tanjung Priok Port and six containers from Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya on December 3, 2025—is destined for several major U.S. entry ports, including Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, emphasized that this shipment demonstrates Indonesia’s capability to meet stringent global food safety standards.
He noted that since the enforcement of the Import Alert on 31 October 2025, the government immediately established a mandatory certification process ensuring zero Cs-137 contamination.
Between 31 October and 3 December, Indonesia certified and exported 313 containers of shrimp to the United States, totaling 5,400 tons valued at USD 58.68 million, equivalent to Rp 974.04 billion.
Additional Shipments Scheduled
The Ministry is preparing further shipments on 4, 5, and 6 December, consisting of 79 containers with a combined volume of 1,600 tons, valued at USD 14.58 million.
By the end of December, Indonesia’s projected shrimp exports to the United States are expected to reach 292 containers, totaling 5,070 tons with an export value of USD 54.74 million (approximately IDR 908.71 billion).
These continued exports indicate that Indonesia’s upstream-to-downstream shrimp industry has largely recovered from disruptions caused by the Cesium-137 contamination alert.
Coordinated National Effort
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, highlighted that the successful resumption of exports reflects strong multi-agency collaboration involving the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, BAPETEN, BRIN, and the Indonesian National Police’s bomb squad unit (Gegana).
He stressed that Indonesia’s swift response underscores the country’s ability to meet international safety standards while strengthening nationwide quality assurance systems from production to distribution.
Industry Welcomes the Breakthrough
The Indonesian Association of Fishery Processing and Marketing (AP5I) expressed strong appreciation for the government’s coordinated actions.
AP5I Chairman Saut Hutagalung stated that this shipment sends an important signal not only to domestic consumers but also to the USFDA and the global seafood market—affirming that Indonesia’s shrimp industry remains compliant, resilient, and competitive.
AP5I also reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to following government protocols to ensure long-term sustainability and the continued expansion of Indonesia’s fisheries sector in premium international markets. (AT Network)
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