TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As of the first semester of this year, the export volume of crabs jumperd by 25.76 percent to more 19,000 tons worth US$198 million. The export volume to China recorded the highest increase at around 94 percent.

Chairman of the Indonesian Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing Association (AP5I), Thomas Darmawan, said the trend of crab exports has been increasing from year to year.

Data from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry reveals that the export of crabs and its byproducts reached up to 19,786 tons from January to June this year. This export volume increased 25.76 percent compared to the same period of time last year, which amounted to 15,733 tons.

This export growth was not only driven by an increase in demand, yet also by price surges. The value of crab exports increased 7.82 percent from $183.7 million during the first semester of 2012 to $198 million during the first semester of this year.

The United States is recorded as the main crab export target with a volume of 5,711 tons worth $104.7 million. However, Thomas also noted that the highest growth trend occurred in China.

In 2010, the export volume of crabs to China was only at 967 tons worth $2.1 million. Since 2011, the volume hiked by 350 percent to 4,379 tons worth $16 million.

This year, Thomas stated, crab exports to China are projected to experience the highest increase because in June alone, the volume rose by 94.25 percent to 8,861 tons. Meanwhile, the value soared from $27.1 million in June 2012 to $58.19 million in June this year.

PINGIT ARIA