Jakarta. Indonesia’s shrimp exports to the United States have resumed after being halted over concerns of Cesium-137 contamination, with more than 5,200 tons shipped since early November, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said on Wednesday.

The recovery in exports followed the US government’s formal recognition of Indonesia’s Cesium-137–free certification, issued exclusively by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

“The decisive moment came when US authorities designated our ministry as the sole institution authorized to certify shrimp as free from Cesium-137,” Sakti said at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, where he symbolically dispatched certified shrimp containers.

He said 10 containers were shipped on Wednesday, with a total of 605 containers -- equivalent to 10,000 tons worth Rp 1.8 trillion ($108 million) -- scheduled to depart by the end of December.

According to Sakti, restoring access to the US market was crucial due to its vital role in Indonesia’s aquaculture economy.

“Shrimp is one of our most valuable export commodities, worth between $1.6 billion and $2 billion annually. And America is our largest market,” he said.

The ceremony was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, who praised the sector’s resilience.

“Indonesia has resolved the issue and maintained top quality. This sends a message to the world that we can meet global standards,” Zulkifli said.

He stressed the importance of strong trade diplomacy and clear communication with international partners to maintain confidence and secure long-term market access for Indonesian seafood.

The export halt began in August when the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) issued Import Alert 99-51, resulting in the return of 18 containers of Indonesian shrimp over suspected Cesium-137 contamination.

“The product appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137,” the FDA said, adding that it continues to work with Indonesian authorities to identify the source.

Following the alert, Indonesian regulators sealed a seafood processing facility in the Cikande Industrial Zone, Banten, which is suspected of being the origin of the contamination.

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