Indonesia is seeking to significantly expand access for its fishery products in Türkiye, with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries proposing 63 additional fish processing units to obtain approval numbers from Turkish authorities.
The initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen Indonesia’s seafood export market and improve the competitiveness of domestic fishery products. A joint pre-border inspection involving Indonesian authorities and Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is being conducted from August 10 to 15, 2026.
Ishartini, acting head of the Indonesian ministry’s Agency for Quality Control and Inspection of Marine and Fishery Products, said the inspections are a prerequisite for Turkish authorities to issue approval numbers to processing companies seeking access to the market.
The joint inspection allows Turkish officials to assess processing operations directly, with particular attention to sanitation, hygiene and food safety standards across the seafood supply chain.
The inspection covers seven fish processing units in Jakarta, Banyuwangi, Sidoarjo and Denpasar. Their product portfolios include tuna, demersal fish, cephalopods, sea cucumbers, shrimp, milkfish, crabs and grouper.
All seven facilities had previously secured quality certifications from Indonesia’s Agency for Quality Control and Inspection of Marine and Fishery Products, which serves as the country’s competent authority for seafood exports.
The broader proposal covers 63 processing units. Indonesia currently has 72 fish processing units with access to the Turkish market. If all 63 proposed facilities receive approval numbers, the potential number of Indonesian exporters eligible to ship fishery products to Türkiye would rise to 135.
The expansion comes as Indonesia’s seafood trade with Türkiye continues to grow. Indonesian fishery exports to Türkiye increased from around 2,300 metric tons in 2024 to approximately 2,500 metric tons in 2025.
The value of those exports reached $4.16 million in 2025, according to Indonesian ministry data. Indonesia currently exports 24 categories of fishery commodities to Türkiye, including cephalopods, tuna, sardines, seaweed and shrimp.
The government sees regulatory alignment and stronger food-safety compliance as critical to unlocking further export growth. Direct inspections by Turkish authorities could also help Indonesian processors better understand market requirements and reduce barriers to entry.
For Indonesia’s seafood industry, the proposed approvals represent an opportunity to diversify export markets while increasing the value generated from the country’s fisheries sector. If the additional processing units clear the Turkish approval process, the expanded exporter base could provide a broader platform for Indonesian seafood to compete in the Turkish market and beyond.
