Antara News·Indonesia·Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 09:01 AM UTC

Indonesia seeks European partnerships in tilapia, seaweed

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Shofi Ayudiana, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is opening up partnership opportunities for European investors to develop the tilapia and seaweed industries, covering the entire value chain from upstream to downstream.

TB Haeru Rahayu, an official of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), stated in Jakarta on Sunday that Indonesia has been developing tilapia farming on Java Island to meet domestic consumption needs while also supplying raw materials for the processing industry.

"Potential partnerships could focus on improving seed quality, enhancing feed efficiency, ensuring fish health, and establishing product traceability," he said.

The collaboration opportunities were presented during the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF) 2026 in Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday (Oct 15).

In addition to tilapia, the KKP is also promoting partnerships for seaweed development, specifically by improving the quality of raw materials and strengthening post-harvest processes.

Collaboration in this sector includes the provision of high-quality seedlings, the implementation of mechanization and aquaculture technology, and the improvement of drying and storage processes for harvested seaweed.

These measures are essential for maintaining consistent raw material quality for the processing industry.

Regarding the market, Andhi Trapsilo, a representative of the Indonesian Tilapia Association (ATI), noted that the value of Indonesia’s tilapia exports from January to November 2025 reached US$87.57 million.

The United States is the primary export destination, accounting for a 51.7 percent share, followed by Canada at 24.7 percent.

Meanwhile, exports to the European Union reached US$7.13 million, representing 8.1 percent of the total export value reported.

Trapsilo also highlighted that the export value of Indonesian tilapia reached US$6.98 per kilogram, the highest among the world’s major exporters, which include China, Colombia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

He noted that, beyond fillets, the primary product, the tilapia industry has the potential to increase value-added through the utilization of processing by-products.

Fish skin and scales can be processed into raw materials for collagen and gelatin, while other parts can be used to produce fish meal and fish oil.

Meanwhile, Artati Widarti, a representative of the Indonesian Tropical Seaweed Association (INTROSEA), stated that the potential uses for seaweed extend well beyond hydrocolloid products like carrageenan and agar.

Seaweed can also be developed as a raw material for the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as for bioplastics and products that support the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

According to Widarti, an Indonesia-Europe partnership could be fostered through the trade of derivative products, research, investment, and processing.

Support in areas such as quality testing, compliance with standards, and market access is essential to enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesian seaweed products.

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