For international buyers seeking frozen seafood products in Indonesia, the country offers a broad selection of wild-caught fish and seafood across different species, cuts, freezing methods, and packaging formats. From tuna and demersal fish to squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, Indonesian suppliers can supply wholesalers, foodservice businesses, retailers, and international seafood importers.
Indonesia’s position as a major seafood-producing country makes it an important sourcing market. According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), national fisheries production reached approximately 23.57 million tonnes in 2024, including more than 7.81 million tonnes from capture fisheries. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s fisheries export value reached approximately US$5.95 billion in 2024, demonstrating the country’s established role in international seafood trade.
What Seafood Products Can You Source From Indonesia?
One of the main advantages of sourcing from an Indonesian supplier is the variety of products. Buyers can select seafood according to species, size, processing requirements, freezing method, and final application.
At AB Mandiri, the product portfolio includes pelagic fish, tuna, milkfish, demersal fish, and cephalopods, with options ranging from fresh seafood to IQF, semi-IQF, and block-frozen products.
1. Pelagic Fish
Pelagic fish are an important category for international seafood buyers. They include species that typically live in open waters and are widely used in foodservice, wholesale, and processing applications.
Available products can include:
- Ribbon fish
- Flying fish
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Spanish mackerel
- Wahoo mackerel
- Marlin
- Mahi-mahi
Depending on the species, buyers can request formats such as frozen fillets, whole round fish, whole gilled and gutted fish, steaks, or other specifications. AB Mandiri lists IQF, semi-IQF, block-frozen, sea-frozen, and land-frozen options for various pelagic species.
2. Tuna Products
Tuna remains one of Indonesia’s most important seafood export categories. KKP reported that tuna and skipjack generated approximately US$1.03 billion in Indonesian fisheries exports in 2024, representing 17.4% of total fisheries export value.
AB Mandiri offers several tuna species, including:
- Skipjack tuna
- Albacore tuna
- Yellowfin tuna
- Bigeye tuna
Products can be supplied as whole round fish, whole gilled and gutted fish, fillets, steaks, or loins, with IQF, semi-IQF, and block-frozen options depending on the product.
This variety allows buyers to select products based on their processing capabilities and target markets.
3. Demersal Fish
Demersal fish are another significant category for buyers seeking premium seafood. These species generally live near the seabed and are commonly used in restaurants, hospitality, foodservice, and retail.
Indonesian sourcing options can include:
- Grouper
- Red grouper
- Coral trout
- Lyretail grouper
- Mosso grouper
- Emperor fish
- Red snapper
- Rabbitfish
- Barramundi
- Goldband snapper
- Parrotfish
AB Mandiri lists these products in fresh, IQF, semi-IQF, and block-frozen formats. Depending on species, specifications include whole round, gilled, gilled and gutted, scaled, fillet, and other preparations.
4. Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus
Cephalopods are another strong Indonesian export category. Official KKP data shows that the combined squid, cuttlefish, and octopus category generated approximately US$874.12 million in export value in 2024, making it one of Indonesia’s leading seafood export groups.
AB Mandiri’s cephalopod range includes:
- Frozen squid or calamari
- Cuttlefish
- Softbone cuttlefish
- Arrow squid
- Octopus
Depending on the species, buyers can source whole round, cleaned, skin-off, ball-type, flower-type, or Yucatan-type preparations. IQF, semi-IQF, block frozen, and selected sea-frozen options are available across the range.
Which Frozen Formats Can Buyers Request?
Product format is just as important as species when sourcing seafood internationally. Buyers may require products that can be used directly in foodservice operations or that can be further processed at their destination facility.
Common options include:
IQF (Individually Quick Frozen): Products are frozen individually, making it easier to portion and handle individual pieces.
Semi-IQF: A freezing format that can provide greater separation between products compared with conventional block freezing.
Block Frozen: Seafood is frozen in blocks and is suitable for wholesale, processing, and applications where products are handled in larger quantities.
AB Mandiri also provides whole, fillet, gilled and gutted, gutted, steak, and loin formats, depending on the species. Its products are rapidly frozen using an ABF machine at approximately -40°C and stored at approximately -20°C, according to its product information.
How Should Buyers Choose Seafood Products?
The right product depends on the buyer’s market and intended application. Restaurants may prioritize ready-to-cook fillets, steaks, or cleaned seafood, while processors may prefer whole round or block-frozen products.
Before placing an order, international buyers should evaluate:
- Species and scientific name
- Product size and grading
- Processing format
- Freezing method
- Packaging requirements
- Minimum order quantity
- Food safety requirements
- Export documentation
- Cold-chain capability
- Destination-market specifications
Working with an experienced Seafood Distributor or direct supplier can also help buyers identify the most appropriate specifications for their target market.
Why Source Frozen Seafood Products From Indonesia?
Indonesia combines extensive marine resources with an established seafood export industry. In 2024, the country exported approximately 1.43 million tonnes of fishery products, according to KKP data based on BPS statistics.
For international buyers, this creates opportunities to source multiple species from one market rather than relying on a single seafood category.
AB Mandiri operates from Makassar, South Sulawesi, and supplies wild-caught fishery products in fresh and frozen formats. Its product portfolio includes pelagic fish, tuna, milkfish, demersal fish, and cephalopods, with processing and freezing specifications tailored to different buyer requirements.
How Can International Buyers Start Sourcing?
When comparing frozen seafood exporters, buyers should look beyond price. Product consistency, processing capabilities, freezing technology, documentation, quality controls, and the ability to meet specific product specifications are equally important.
For businesses seeking frozen seafood products in Indonesia, AB Mandiri offers a broad portfolio to support wholesale, foodservice, processing, and international export needs.
Explore the complete range of seafood export products to review available species and formats, then contact AB Mandiri to discuss product specifications, quantities, packaging, and export requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
International buyers can source tuna, pelagic fish, demersal fish, milkfish, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and other fishery products in fresh and frozen formats.
Common formats include IQF, semi-IQF, block frozen, whole round, fillet, gilled and gutted, steaks, and loins, depending on the species.
Indonesia has significant fisheries production and an established seafood export industry. Its 2024 fisheries export value was approximately US$5.95 billion.
International buyers should contact an established seafood supplier in Indonesia with details about species, size, processing format, quantity, packaging, destination country, and required certifications.
Buyers should evaluate product quality, consistency, processing capabilities, cold-chain management, export experience, documentation, and the supplier’s ability to meet destination-market requirements.