The Customs Office of Ambon has facilitated the inaugural export of katsuobushi (wooden fish) by UD Rizky Fattah Katsuo Maluku Barokah to South Korea on Saturday, October 5th. This export contributes IDR 578 million (approximately USD 36,960) in foreign exchange revenue. The total weight of the katsuobushi export was 6.16 tons, loaded into a 20-foot container, shipped from Ambon to Tanjung Perak port, and then to Incheon, South Korea. This inaugural export was made possible through the collaboration and coordination of various agencies, including Customs, the Provincial Industry and Trade Office of Maluku, the Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office of Maluku, the Maluku Fish, Animal and Plant Quarantine Center, and the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency of Maluku.
M. Farid Irfan, Head of the Ambon Customs Office, stated that this export is expected to establish marine products from Eastern Indonesia, particularly Maluku's katsuobushi, as a leading export commodity, thereby increasing regional income potential, creating new job opportunities, and enhancing community welfare. "Through the export support team and its export clinic, Ambon Customs is ready to provide assistance and support to MSMEs to engage in exports and penetrate international markets," he said. Katsuobushi is a preserved food made from skipjack tuna (katsuo) and is a staple in Japanese cuisine, often sprinkled on hiyayako (cold tofu), okonomiyaki, and takoyaki. Rich in B-complex vitamins and containing high levels of inosine and umami, katsuobushi is widely used as a seasoning. Its high economic value makes katsuobushi highly sought after in international markets, including South Korea.
