Bali Grouper and Milkfish Seed Exports Top Rp6.41 Billion by August

Denpasar — — Exports of Bali-origin grouper and milkfish seed reached 3.29 million fish worth Rp6.41 billion by August 2026, up from 3.52 million fish valued at Rp4.43 billion for all of 2025, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).

The ministry said the seed was shipped mainly to Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, reflecting growing demand from neighbouring aquaculture markets.

KKP’s figures indicate that export value has risen faster than volume, resulting in a higher average value per fish compared with last year.

Certification seen boosting competitiveness

The ministry linked the performance of Bali’s hatchery sector to tighter quality control and certification for fish seed producers.

KKP’s quality agency issues certificates under the Cara Pembenihan Ikan yang Baik scheme, known as CPIB Benih, for hatcheries that meet standards in areas such as water management, hygiene and fish health.

According to KKP’s Badan Pengendalian dan Pengawasan Mutu Hasil Kelautan dan Perikanan (Badan Mutu KKP), CPIB Benih is designed to ensure that seed produced by certified hatcheries is safe and traceable, supporting access to export markets and helping businesses compete globally.

KKP has listed certified units in a national registry of CPIB-compliant hatcheries, covering facilities in Bali and other provinces.

Demand from Thailand highlights regional interest

KKP reported that its quality office in Denpasar supervised exports of more than 600,000 live grouper seed from Bali to Thailand over a two-month period in 2026, underscoring regional interest in the island’s hatchery output.

The shipment formed part of the broader export stream of grouper and milkfish seed from Bali to Southeast Asian and East Asian markets, although the ministry has not publicly broken down the 2026 year-to-date total by species.

Separate data from Bali’s quarantine authorities show that fish seed and other aquaculture products from the province are exported to a wide range of destinations, including Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in Asia, Europe and North America.

Key figures

• 2026 exports to August: 3,298,427 fish, valued at Rp6.41 billion.
• 2025 full-year exports: 3,520,610 fish, valued at Rp4.43 billion.
• Main reported markets: Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.

Broader context

KKP has stepped up efforts to strengthen quality assurance across Indonesia’s fisheries exports, including hatchery products, as part of a push to raise foreign exchange earnings from the sector.

The ministry says its suite of certification services, including CPIB Benih, is available free of charge to eligible businesses, and can be accessed online, provided companies meet basic environmental and building permit requirements.

Research on milkfish seed distribution in Asia has identified Bali as one of Indonesia’s key production centres, with annual exports reaching the order of billions of seed fish.

While the latest KKP data confirm that Bali’s grouper and milkfish seed exports have already surpassed last year’s full-year value by August 2026, the ministry has not yet published a forecast for the remainder of the year or detailed pricing and species composition for the exports.

Sources

• Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (KKP) – "Berkat Sertifikasi Mutu KKP, Benih Kerapu & Bandeng Asal Bali Lari Manis di Dalam dan Luar Negeri"
• JPNN Bali – "Bali Banjir Cuan dari Ekspor Benih Ikan, Jadi Incaran Negara Tetangga"
• Baliekbis – "Refleksi Tahun 2025: Karantina Bali Sertifikasi Kegiatan Ekspor 37.350 Sertifikat"
• Jurnal Perikanan – "Produksi Ekspor dan Distribusi Benih Ikan Bandeng di Wilayah Asia"