2025 Indonesia Prepared Seafood (HS 1605) Export: Volatile Surge

Key Takeaways

Prepared Seafood, classified under HS Code 1605 (Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates prepared or preserved), exhibited erratic but elevated performance from January to September 2025.

• Market Pulse: A volatile Q2 saw a 315% May weight surge (26.8M kg) followed by sharp correction, driven by pre-regulatory stockpiling ahead of US import certification changes. Post-May, monthly exports stabilized near $80M-$92M.
• Structural Shift: Indonesia Prepared Seafood Export relies on extreme buyer (87.9% from key accounts) and geographic (77.8% US share) concentration, creating systemic risk.
• Product Logic: HS Code 1605 trade data reveals a split between bulk shrimp (48% value share) and premium crab/specialty preps ($7-$28/kg range), with preservation methods dictating pricing tiers.

This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Indonesia Prepared Seafood (HS Code 1605) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Indonesia prepared seafood export trend across the first three quarters of 2025 showed erratic but elevated performance, defined by a sharp May supply surge that distorted typical patterns. Following January's $81.1M baseline, exports climbed in February before a volatile spring: March-April saw value and volume retreat, then May exploded with 315% weight growth—reaching 26.8M kg—before sharply correcting to ~7M kg monthly averages through September. This created a Q2 peak-trough pattern atypical for steady commodities.

Drivers & Industry Context

The extreme May volume spike—coinciding with a -62.7% unit price drop—likely reflects exporters front-loading shipments ahead of the US import certification mandate for Indonesian shrimp [Flegenheimer] effective October 31, 2025. This explains the inventory dump depressing prices temporarily. Post-May, the hs code 1605 value stabilized near $80M-$92M monthly, indicating resilient demand despite new compliance steps. No other policy shocks aligned with the data, suggesting standard market adjustments after pre-regulation stockpiling.

Table: Indonesia Prepared Seafood Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia HS Code 1605 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

From January to September 2025, the Indonesia HS Code 1605 Export was dominated by shrimps and prawns not in airtight containers, accounting for 48% of the total export value. According to yTrade data, this category also represented 41% of shipment frequency and 38% of quantity. Other significant categories include crab preparations and shrimps in airtight containers, with the remaining sub-codes consisting mostly of mollusc and aquatic invertebrate preparations.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices vary from $7 to $28 per kilogram, with crab and specialized preparations commanding premiums over bulk shrimps. This indicates a market split between commodity-driven, price-sensitive exports for high-volume items and quality-sensitive, higher-value segments for niche products. The HS Code 1605 breakdown reveals a trade structure where preservation methods and product type significantly influence pricing, with bulk exports dominating but specialized offerings capturing value through differentiation.

Table: Indonesia HS Code 1605) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia Prepared Seafood Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Indonesia's Prepared Seafood export destinations show extreme concentration in the United States, which captured 77.8% of the total export value in the first three quarters of 2025. This single-market reliance creates significant exposure to any economic or regulatory shifts in the US, representing a major strategic vulnerability. All other trade partners, including Japan and the Netherlands, hold shares below 10%, offering little immediate diversification.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The US market's nearly identical value and weight ratios indicate a commodity-driven trade for Prepared Seafood, where price-sensitive bulk processing defines the relationship. Japan's wider value-volume gap, with a value share (9.2%) trailing its weight share (8.2%), further confirms this trend toward industrial-scale purchasing. This pattern points to a market driven by volume scale for large-scale distribution, not by high-margin premium demand from trade partners for Prepared Seafood.

Table: Indonesia Prepared Seafood (HS Code 1605) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Indonesia Prepared Seafood Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, Indonesia's Prepared Seafood export market is overwhelmingly dominated by a core group of loyal, high-volume buyers. This segment, representing key accounts like H&N GROUP, INC and HERON POINT SEAFOOD, LLC, contributed 87.91% of total export value throughout the first three quarters of 2025. This indicates a stable, contract-based supply chain for Indonesia Prepared Seafood buyers, with deep relationships driving consistent, high-value transactions.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The heavy reliance on a small group of key accounts creates significant concentration risk; losing even one major buyer could severely impact export revenue. Sales strategy must prioritize relationship management and retention for these high-volume repeaters, ensuring contract renewals and exploring value-added services to deepen partnerships. For long-tail growth, targeted digital outreach could capture smaller, opportunistic buyers showing interest in HS Code 1605 purchasing patterns, but the primary focus must remain on securing the anchor accounts.

Table: Indonesia Prepared Seafood (HS Code 1605) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Prepared Seafood Market Operation and Expansion

• Secure anchor buyers: Lock in contract renewals with H&N GROUP, INC and HERON POINT SEAFOOD, LLC through value-added services—losing one risks 87.9% revenue exposure.
• Diversify markets immediately: Reduce US dependence (77.8% share) by targeting Japan’s 9.2% value share and EU niches, leveraging existing but underutilized trade lanes.
• Optimize bulk logistics: Cut costs for shrimp/prawns (48% of exports) to defend margins in the $7/kg commodity segment dominating weight share.
• Brand premium offerings: Highlight crab and airtight container preps ($28/kg) with technical specs to justify price premiums in niche markets.
• Monitor US regulatory timelines: Anticipate October 2025 certification shifts to avoid repeat inventory dumps that crashed May unit prices by 62.7%.

Take Action Now —— Explore Indonesia Prepared Seafood HS Code 1605 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Indonesia Prepared Seafood Export in 2025?

The May 2025 export surge (315% volume growth) was driven by exporters stockpiling shipments ahead of a US import certification mandate, causing a temporary price drop. Post-May, trade stabilized near $80M-$92M monthly, indicating resilient demand despite regulatory changes.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Indonesia Prepared Seafood (HS Code 1605) in 2025?

The US dominated with 77.8% of export value, followed by Japan (9.2%) and the Netherlands (below 10%). This extreme concentration highlights reliance on a single market.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Indonesia Prepared Seafood Export in 2025?

Prices range from $7 to $28/kg, with crab and specialized preparations (e.g., airtight containers) commanding premiums over bulk shrimp, reflecting a split between commodity-driven and niche markets.

Q4. What should exporters in Indonesia focus on in the current Prepared Seafood export market?

Prioritize retaining high-volume buyers (87.91% of export value) while diversifying away from US dependence. Value-added services and contract stability are critical to mitigate concentration risks.

Q5. What does this Indonesia Prepared Seafood export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

US buyers benefit from stable, bulk commodity supply, while niche markets (e.g., Japan) face limited high-margin offerings. Overreliance on Indonesia exposes buyers to supply chain disruptions.

Q6. How is Prepared Seafood typically used in this trade flow?

HS Code 1605 exports are primarily bulk shrimp and prawns for industrial-scale distribution, with smaller volumes of premium crab and mollusc preparations for specialized markets.