Opportunities for the Development of Processed Tuna Products from Capture Fisheries of Indonesia Towards the International Market

Abstract

Tuna fisheries are a strategic component of Indonesia’s capture fisheries, supported by substantial resources across the Indian Ocean, eastern Indonesian waters, and the Pacific Ocean. The catch is dominated by skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna, species that thrive in Indonesia’s warm and highly productive tropical waters shaped by strong currents and upwelling processes. These conditions have positioned Indonesia as one of the world’s leading tuna exporters. This study examines the potential and performance of processed tuna exports from the Cilacap Ocean Fishing Port, with a key role in supporting national fisheries exports. A descriptive approach was applied to analyze export volume and export value data for tuna products from 2020 to 2024. The data were processed using descriptive statistics and presented through tables, bar charts, and line graphs to illustrate export dynamics over time. The results indicate that PPS Cilacap exported 13 types of processed tuna products during the study period, with canned tuna and tuna pouches as the dominant products. Export composition showed marked fluctuations, with the highest level of product diversification occurring in 2021, followed by a reduction in product types and the absence of recorded processed tuna exports in 2024. Export volumes increased in 2021 and 2022 but declined sharply in 2023, with the downward trend continuing into 2024. This pattern reflects a broader decline in overall fisheries export performance at PPS Cilacap. The United States emerged as the primary destination for processed tuna exports. Although Indonesia remains competitive in fresh, frozen, and processed tuna markets, the processed tuna segment faces intense competition within an oligopolistic global market dominated by a limited number of major exporting countries. These findings underscore the need for more targeted strategies to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global processed tuna market.