Saudi Arabia lifts temporary suspension on Indonesian shrimp imports

Saudi Arabia has officially lifted its temporary suspension on shrimp imports from Indonesia after nearly 9 months of enforcement due to concerns over the risk of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive isotope contamination. This decision paves the way for Indonesian seafood enterprises... The suspension was enforced by Saudi Arabia in September 2025 after U.S. authorities detected traces of Cs-137 in several exported shrimp shipments from Indonesia. Previously, Indonesian officials confirmed that this radioactive substance was found in shrimp products linked to a steel mill at an industrial park in Banten province, west of Jakarta. However, Indonesia asserted that the incident did not affect the safety of the national seafood supply chain.

 

Following the warning from the U.S. and product recalls conducted by several suppliers, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) suspended the export licenses of four Indonesian enterprises as a precautionary measure. Although Indonesia reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to resume exports starting October 2025, Saudi Arabia maintained its restrictions until the end of May 2026.

 

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, the licenses of the four affected enterprises have been restored following bilateral dialogues and the submission of technical dossiers proving that the products meet safety requirements. Exporters to Saudi Arabia must comply with a Cs-137-free certification process similar to that required for the U.S. market.

Saudi Arabia is currently a strategic market for Indonesian seafood thanks to stable consumer demand and the need to serve the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage seasons. Following the reopening of the market, Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso urged businesses to boost seafood exports to this nation.

 

Source: vasep

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