Jakarta. Indonesia has resumed shrimp exports to the United States, shipping around 3,400 containers valued at an estimated Rp11 trillion ($639 million), the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) said on Monday, marking a recovery after last year’s disruption linked to contamination concerns.

Acting KKP Secretary General Andy Artha Donny Oktopura said the government has strengthened its end-to-end food safety assurance system, covering production, processing and distribution, to ensure Indonesian seafood meets both domestic and international standards.

“We are reinforcing quality assurance from upstream production, both capture fisheries and aquaculture, so all products comply with required standards,” Andy said at the Food Summit 2026 in Jakarta.

He added that oversight has also been tightened in processing and packaging stages, with certification applied at each step to ensure products remain safe until they reach consumers.

Indonesia’s quality assurance system has gained international recognition through the harmonization of standards with export destination requirements, including those set by US authorities, he said.

The latest shipments underscore the effectiveness of those measures. As of April 26, Indonesia had exported about 3,400 containers of shrimp to the US, with a total value exceeding Rp11 trillion.

The resumption follows a temporary setback in 2025, when Indonesian shrimp exports were flagged over suspected cesium contamination. Between June and August 2025, Indonesia exported 387 containers of frozen vannamei shrimp totaling 5,595 tons to the US.

On Aug. 14, the US Food and Drug Administration issued Import Alert 99-51, prompting the return of 18 containers over concerns of Cesium-137 contamination.

Exports resumed in September 2025 after comprehensive testing confirmed the shrimp were free from radioactive substances and safe for consumption.

Andy said the latest development reflects KKP’s broader strategy to ensure Indonesia’s aquatic food products meet global safety standards while boosting competitiveness in international markets.

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