IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has logged a spike in the country’s lobster seed exports in August 2020 to US$6.43 million or Rp94.5 billion despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The figure is the value of 4.216 tons of lobster seed exports.
The Head of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s Fish Quarantine Centre, Riza Priyatna, said the spike was caused by the rising demand for the commodity.
“After observing the [data of] BPS, lobster exports probably reached the figure. This is because of the abundant seeds, good cultivation, and exports that were based on market demand,” he said via text message on Monday, 21 September 2020.
The August export figure jumped by 75.2 percent from that of July 2020. Based on quantity, lobster seed exports also rocketed by 135.66 percent from that of the previous month.
In July 2020, lobster seed exports reached US$3.67 million with 1,789 kg, soaring from US$112,900 in June 2020 with only 32 kg.
In August 2020, most of the lobster seeds were exported to Vietnam, which bought 4,208 kg at US$6.42 million. The same period also saw Taiwan as a new export destination, with 8kg at US$7,000.
Lobster seed exports have been on the rise since Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo issued the Ministerial Regulation No. 12 Year 2020 as the basis of lobster seeds exports.
Indonesia’s lobster seed exports from May to August 2020 reached US$10.2 million or 6,037 kg.
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EKO WAHYUDI
