JakartaPost-Oct 9, 2025
Industry players have warned that Indonesia’s export reputation is on the line, as delays in addressing recent radioactive and toxic material contamination could undermine the credibility of local goods abroad. They cautioned that such fallout could lead to financial losses and mass layoffs, urging the government to act swiftly and implement stronger safeguards to prevent future incidents. The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) has called for urgent measures to restore global market confidence and prevent stigma on Indonesian goods surfacing, as negative perceptions toward one export commodity can spill over to related industries. “Such reputational risks can also affect other sectors such as fisheries, processed foods and agribusiness […] impacting Indonesia’s exports as a whole,” Apindo’s head of the fisheries and livestock division, Hendra Sugandhi, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Hendra noted that the recall of Indonesian shrimp exports to the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prompted many foreign buyers to be more cautious, tightening inspections or even delaying contracts with local suppliers. Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI) chairman Andi Tamsil revealed that around 400 containers had been returned so far, representing a loss of over Rp 1 trillion (US$60 million), with many other buyers reportedly postponing purchases. He added that shrimp farms in various regions have suffered price drops of up to 30 percent. “[This incident] has hurt more than 600 small-scale farmers in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and surrounding areas,” Andi told the Post. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/10/09/health-scare-taints-indonesias-export-reputation.html.
