CEO
The
Chief Editor Overview
H
ello and welcome to this month’s issue of THE CRUST. For Indonesian shrimp farmers, September has arrived with no shortage of things to watch closely. Several pressures are converging at once, and understanding each of them clearly matters more than ever. The first is one that has been building since the start of the year. Following the government’s decision to route soybean meal imports through state-owned PT Berdikari, the feed industry has been navigating a significant structural shift. Soybean meal is one of the most critical raw materials in feed formulation, and with fishmeal also facing tighter supply conditions, feedmillers are absorbing rising input costs on multiple fronts. Those costs do not stop at the mill. With feed making up roughly 50-60 percent of total shrimp production costs, any upward movement in feed prices is felt immediately and directly by farmers already operating on tight margins. The policy’s stated goal of ensuring supply stability is understandable, but the concern across aquaculture and the broader animal protein sector remains real and worth watching carefully. The second pressure comes from a different direction. Data from BPS showed that 219 tons of shrimp entered Indonesia from Ecuador and Argentina in May and June of this year, arriving through Tanjung Perak and Batu Ampar ports. It is worth noting that importing Argentine red shrimp for reprocessing is not new. Processors have done this for years as part of normal value-added operations. What raised concern this time was the inclusion of van-
namei from Ecuador, the same species that Indonesian farmers produce. Shrimp Club Indonesia raised this formally with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in August. KKP responded on September 23 by seizing 1,048 tons of imported shrimp across East Java. The importing companies have since questioned the legal basis of the seizure, and the situation remains unresolved. Imported vannamei entering a domestic market where local farmers are already under pressure from high production costs and uncertain export conditions is a serious concern. The industry produces hundreds of thousands of livelihoods. That needs to be protected through clear, consistent, and enforceable policy. Amid all of this, it was encouraging to see the global industry gather at the Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht earlier this month. The work being done through the Global Shrimp Council to actively expand shrimp consumption and grow overall demand is exactly the kind of long-term thinking this industry needs alongside the short-term firefighting. Growing the pie benefits everyone across the supply chain. Farmers right now are navigating rising costs, uncertain export conditions, and questions around domestic market protection simultaneously. It is a heavy load. But the fact that associations are raising alarms, regulators are acting, and global bodies are working on demand expansion suggests the industry is not standing still. And neither should we.
Photo source : doc. The CRUST
THE CRUST - RIZKY
Rizky Darmawan Chief Editor
2 Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
BEYOND COMMODITY:
WHERE INDONESIA’S SHRIMP INDUSTRY GOES NEXT
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he global shrimp industry is entering an increasingly competitive phase. While market demand remains, production is growing faster than consumption. This is creating new pressure for producing countries, including Indonesia, as they face a growing global supply and increasingly competitive prices. Speaking at Farm 2026 recently, Lie Tje Yoeng, Deputy Head of Commodities at CP Prima, described this changing landscape by looking at production trends in major shrimp-producing countries. Ecuador, for example, has increased its shrimp production from around 400,000 tonnes in 2014 to 1.5 million tonnes in 2025. India now produces around 1.1 million tonnes, while Indonesia is at around 240,000 tonnes. These figures do not include China, which produces around 2.5 million tonnes despite being a net importer. When production growth is not matched by demand growth, producers inevitably face price pressure. The challenge becomes even greater as production costs continue to rise. As a result, the commodity market is becoming increasingly crowded and competitive. “Competition has shifted. It is no longer about who can produce more. It is about who can produce the right shrimp, at the right cost, and with consistent quality,” Lie said. This shift is an important warning for Indonesia. As one of the world’s major shrimp producers, the country can no longer rely on production volume alone to strengthen its position. Ecuador’s large production base and relatively low costs have also changed the global cost benchmark. Indonesia therefore needs to improve its cost per kilogram while maintaining product consistency to remain competitive against Ecuador, India, Vietnam and other producing countries. Reducing Dependence on the US The pressure becomes even more apparent when looking at the latest export figures. In the first half of 2026, Indonesia’s shrimp exports fell by around 14% in volume and 7% in value. The three main destinations—the United States, Japan and Europe—all recorded declines, although shipments to markets such as China and Malaysia increased. According to Lie, the US remains Indonesia’s main market, accounting for around 60% of the country’s shrimp exports. This heavy dependence makes Indonesia particularly vulnerable to policy changes and market dynamics, as seen recently with antidumping and countervailing duty cases, tariffs and the Cesium-137 issue. The Cs-137 issue, in particular, has added costs and extended lead times for exporters, potentially putting further pressure on competitiveness. “Issues like these can disrupt the production schedules of processing plants. They need at least around two weeks for production, scanning schedules and waiting for laboratory results,” Lie said. Under these circumstances, Lie sees market diversification as increasingly important. China and Malaysia are among the alternative markets that could be developed, provided Indonesian products meet their specific
Lie Tje Yoeng
Photo source : doc. The CRUST
Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
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art-ICLE requirements. Europe also remains an attractive market, although its entry requirements are extensive. Certifications such as ASC, as well as requirements related to broodstock ablation, are among the challenges that the industry needs to anticipate. Opportunities in Europe could also be strengthened by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and the European Union, which is awaiting implementation. The agreement would allow Indonesian shrimp to enter the market at zero tariffs, compared with the current rate of around 8–12%. Market access, however, is only one part of the equation. Consistently meeting market requirements is another. According to Lie, buyers need certainty not only in terms of volume, but also size, quality and supply continuity, as well as food safety and sustainability practices. As a business ecosystem, these demands therefore apply not only to processing plants and exporters, but also to farmers upstream and even hatcheries. Producing for the Market The current market dynamics are also creating a new challenge at the production level: a mismatch between the shrimp being produced and market specifications, particularly in terms of size. If the market is looking for medium to smaller shrimp, for example in sizes 50–100, farmers may instead push their crops to larger sizes such as head-on size 2 or 3. Markets for these larger shrimp do exist, particularly in the US and Europe, but the available volume is relatively limited. “So, if we are not willing to start by looking at what the market actually needs, we may end up producing shrimp that nobody wants to buy because there is no market for it. And even if there is a buyer, the price will eventually fall. It becomes cheaper,” Lie said. This also relates to harvest timing. Harvesting is not simply a technical decision at the farm level. It can also play a role in maintaining price stability by allowing producers to adjust supply to buyer requirements. Market preferences can be even more specific. In China, for instance, one of the challenges is shrimp colour. Lie noted that Chinese buyers tend to prefer shrimp with a brighter colour, while Indonesian shrimp production is generally paler. This presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the domestic industry. At the same time, markets are beginning to provide greater room for value-added products. According to Lie, products such as cooked, marinated and breaded shrimp can offer greater value than conventional commodity shrimp. This represents a significant opportunity for Indonesia, particularly because value-added processing has long been one of the country’s strengths compared with some competitors. Ecuador, for ex-
ample, remains heavily focused on Head On (HO) shrimp. Adapting to the New Landscape Against this changing market backdrop, Lie outlined several steps that could help Indonesia remain relevant. The first is the ability to produce according to market needs. This requires a closer connection between farms and markets so that production decisions are not made in isolation. Farmers need to understand the required sizes, specifications, quality standards and product characteristics before deciding how to manage their production. The second is lowering costs. Cost efficiency can be improved across multiple aspects of production, from FCR, survival and growth rates to energy efficiency and labour use. However, these efficiencies must be achieved without compromising quality. As the global cost benchmark becomes increasingly competitive, production costs will remain a key factor in determining competitiveness. The third is building trust. Buyers need confidence that the products they receive will have consistent quality and food safety. Biosecurity and food safety are therefore becoming increasingly important to building long-term relationships with the market. Consistency in both quality and cost will be among the factors determining Indonesia’s competitiveness against other producing countries. The fourth is capturing more value. When Indonesia relies primarily on commodity shrimp, it will continue to compete largely on price against products from countries such as Ecuador, Vietnam, and India. In such a market, the room to compete becomes increasingly limited. Premium specifications and certified shrimp are among the options that could help create greater value. “So, the golden age of shrimp farming is no longer about how much shrimp we can produce. It is about the value we can create from the shrimp itself.” Lie concluded. THE CRUST - AB
4 Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
FISH-School
Microbiome Paradox:
How Vibrio Attacks Surge Shrimp Gut Diversity hy the collapse of dominant resident bacteria in whiteleg shrimp opens ecological niches that overhaul internal microbial dynamics. In commercial aquaculture, outbreaks of Vibrio parahaemolyticus represent a formidable threat to Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Conventional wisdom holds that pathogen invasion destroys internal microbial ecosystems, stripping away gut diversity. However, research from Hainan University published in BMC Microbiology (2026) reveals an unexpected ecological paradox: low-dose pathogenic bacterial infection actually triggers a surge in gut microbial diversity.
The “Niche Vacancy” Effect The sharp decline of Bacilloplasma leaves behind open physical space and unconsumed nutrients within the gut lining. This ecological vacuum enables secondary bacterial groups—such as Tamlana and Motilimonas—to rapidly expand their populations. The proliferation of these minor taxa explains the sudden rise in microbial richness and evenness within infected shrimp. Interspecific interaction networks also become noticeably more complex and heterogeneous. However, this diversity spike does not signal improved health; rather, it marks the breakdown of natural gut homeostasis.
The Fall of the Dominant Resident To unravel this anomaly, researchers examined the natural digestive composition of healthy shrimp. Under baseline conditions, the intestinal tract of L. vannamei is dominated by a key bacterial lineage, Candidatus Bacilloplasma, accounting for roughly 31% to 49% of the total microbial community. This indigenous bacterium plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecosystem stability and supporting host immunity. When shrimp experience low-dose V. parahaemolyticus infection, a drastic shift unfolds. Infection pressure coupled with host immune selection heavily suppresses Candidatus Bacilloplasma. Laboratory findings show that this dominant taxon plunged from 49.01% in control groups to just 12.19% in infected shrimp by 168 hours post-infection. Ecological Insight: The sudden collapse of dominant bacteria creates open ecological niches, allowing secondary bacterial taxa to proliferate and altering interspecific interaction networks.
Implications for Modern Farm Management These scientific insights offer a fresh perspective for modern farm operators. The activation of host immune genes—such as antimicrobial peptides PEN2, LYZ1, CTL1, and IL-16—demonstrates that shrimp deploy deterministic selection during chronic infection phases to shape gut composition. When native beneficial bacteria fall, the gut becomes vulnerable to colonization by opportunistic environmental microbes. Consequently, biosecurity protocols and probiotic applications should not only focus on pathogen eradication, but must also prioritize preserving native microbial guardians like Bacilloplasma to keep the digestive ecosystem stable and resilient.
W
Putri Afin Nurhayati
Source: He, H., Zhou, R., Ma, Q., & Hou, D. (2026). Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection drives a decline in dominant intestinal bacterial taxa to modulate microbiota diversity in shrimp. BMC Microbiology.
Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
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THE CRUST - DELTA MARINE INDONESIA
TARS 2026 HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR MORE E
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he 15th edition of the Aquaculture Roundtable Series® (TARS) 2026 concluded successfully on August 20, 2026, in Bali, Indonesia, bringing together 284 participants from across Asia’s aquafeed and aquaculture supply chain. The two-day meeting welcomed speakers, panelists, moderators, and industry leaders from 29 countries to exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of aquafeeds and aquaculture in Asia. Building on the theme of TARS 2019, Aquafeeds: Fit for Future, the 2026 program examined how the aquafeed industry must adapt to Asia’s evolving aquaculture landscape. With the current situation of a super El Niño adding further uncertainty, the discussions focused on how the sector can better manage feed-ingredient volatility, production risks, and the growing need for efficiency and resilience. The program featured 10 sessions involving 52 international and regional speakers, panelists, and industry players. Among the key discussions was the State of Industry & Commodities session, which examined how volatile commodity prices, supply disruptions, and low farmgate prices are affecting both feed producers and farmers. Speakers highlighted that feed prices are influenced by factors beyond demand, with geopolitical conflicts affecting oil, shipping, and feed costs, while rising demand for soybean oil could also influence soybean meal availability. Marine ingredients such as fishmeal and fish oil may see lower inclusion rates, but their nutritional and functional benefits mean they are unlikely to be fully replaced and will remain strategically important. The discussion also reflected a shift in how Indonesia’s aquafeed industry competes. Performance indicators such as formulation quality, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency, disease management, and farm outcomes are becoming increasingly important alongside price and volume. For Asian aquaculture more broadly, the future points toward integrated feed formulations that balance nutrition, genetics, health, environmental conditions, digestibility, and palatability rather than focusing solely on reducing costs or marine-ingredient inclusion.
The Cost Efficiency with Digestible Nutrient-Based Formulations session took the discussion deeper into precision nutrition, including the use of digestible nutrients and microdiets during the early stages of fish and shrimp production. As input costs continue to rise, reducing or replacing expensive ingredients without compromising animal performance will remain critical. However, cost efficiency cannot simply mean producing the cheapest feed. Digestibility, production performance, and the value delivered to farmers throughout the production cycle must also be considered. Building Resilience Through Nutrition and Collaboration Risk management remained another central theme of TARS 2026. Discussions on functional additives and functional feeds highlighted their potential to support animal health and growth while helping farmers manage disease-related risks. In Vietnam and India, EHP and vibriosis continue to pose major challenges, reinforcing the importance of building resilience through balanced nutrition and well-designed functional additives. Functional feeds may also help reduce physical stress during vaccination in fish and should be considered as part of an integrated formulation strategy rather than as standalone supplements. Functional ingredients can support mucosal immunity in fish affected by Ich, while highly bioavailable vitamin D sources can provide benefits beyond
Opening Address
The Photo source : doc. TARS 2026
Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
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EFFICIENT, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AQUAFEEDS
art-ICLE
Alternative Ingredients and the Future of Sustainable Aquafeeds With fishmeal prices remaining high, Marketing Alternative Ingredients provided a timely look at two emerging protein pathways: insect meal and single-cell proteins. Rather than replacing fishmeal or fish oil on a one-for-one basis, alternative ingredients are likely to become part of carefully designed blends that combine protein, energy, omega-3s, digestibility, palatability, and functionality.
State of Industry & Commodities
Meanwhile, the Feed Sustainability session called for industry-wide benchmarking to better measure sustainability across key Southeast Asian aquaculture species. Sustainability, participants noted, must ultimately deliver fish and shrimp that are sustainable, safe, nutritious, marketable, and profitable. Greater value could also be created from co-products generated through food-processing streams. As sustainability metrics become increasingly rigorous, feedmillers will need to demonstrate measurable performance rather than simply communicate intent. The Interactive Roundtable Breakout session brought participants together to explore next-generation aquafeeds and emerging innovations. Discussions focused on matching available digestible nutrients more closely with species requirements to maximise production outcomes and identifying opportunities for new-generation feed development. “Although the task was substantial, par ticipants collaborated effectively, sharing their experience and expertise to help shape the in dustry’s future,” added Merican. The Next TARS. Building on 15 years of industry dialogue, TARS 2027, with a focus on shrimp aquaculture, will once again bring together aquafeed producers, farmers, technology providers, and aquaculture leaders to address emerging challenges and explore the future of the sector. The next edition will provide another opportunity for the regional industry to exchange ideas, build connections, and contribute to the continued development of Asian aquaculture.
Smart Feeding & Management
8 Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
THE CRUST - AB
simply meeting dietary vitamin D requirements. Across these applications, the panel identified three guiding principles for functional feed development: safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. “Since 2018, TARS has provided a platform for aquaculture’s next generation. With aquafeeds in focus this year, the panelists shared their wish list with feed millers. Each year, these young farmers inspire audiences with their vision for the industry’s future,” said Zuridah Merican, Chair of TARS 2026. That perspective was particularly evident in the Next-Gen Farmers X Feedmillers session, which brought together two shrimp farmers from Indonesia and Vietnam and a tilapia hatchery manager from Thailand. They shared their expectations for optimum feeds with feedmillers from Vietnam and Indonesia. The discussion suggested that the gap between farmers and feedmillers is driven less by conflicting interests than by limited data, transparency, and trust, as well as misaligned incentives and unclear cost-sharing. Greater collaboration should therefore focus on total farm profitability, measurable performance, responsible additive use, genetics and post-larvae quality, and value-chain premiums that can ultimately benefit farmers. The Smart Feed Management session similarly emphasised practical outcomes. More precise feeding should translate into less feed waste, improved feed efficiency, stronger production performance, and technologies that are genuinely useful and accessible to farmers. Smart feeding, the discussion made clear, is not simply about automation. It is about combining data with farm-level observation to make better feeding decisions and build more efficient and resilient shrimp production systems. At the Hard Talk with C-suite Business Leaders, participants tackled broader questions around feed efficacy, feeding management, farmer mindsets, additives, alternative ingredients, profitability, and Asia’s competitiveness against Ecuador. While Asia has strong feed expertise, Ecuador benefits from scale, direct purchasing, and efficient feeding practices. Without greater vertical integration, stronger communication across the value chain will be essential, particularly around feed formulation and performance. The discussion also highlighted the need for better data sharing and greater trust between farmers and feed companies. Feed quality should ultimately be assessed through measurable performance rather than factors such as feed colour or familiarity with specific ingredients. Feeding management remains another weak link, as farm conditions can change rapidly and require continuous adjustment.
WETMarket
Shrimp Happens:
A Look at 2026 Supply, Demand and Prices
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eading into the second half of 2026, the global shrimp market is caught in a straightforward dilemma: farms are harvesting more shrimp than ever, but buyers worldwide aren’t picking up the slack at the same pace. For Indonesia, this supply-demand gap is hitting close to home. Between January and June 2026, Indonesian shrimp exports dropped to 94,504 MT, a 14% year-over-year decline, with export value slipping 7% down to USD 834 million. But look closely at individual destination markets, and you’ll see this isn’t just a simple case of falling demand. It is a story of shifting consumer behavior, changing trade routes, and fierce international competition. China: Buying More, Eating the Same? China was easily one of the most dynamic shrimp buyers in the first half of 2026. Total imports jumped 22% year-over-year to 525,900 MT, topping USD 2.68 billion in total value. Indonesia caught part of that wave, increasing its shipments to China by 24% to 7,299 MT. But context matters: Ecuador continues to dominate the Chinese market, with India making steady gains as well. More importantly, higher import numbers don’t necessarily mean Chinese dinner plates are overflowing with shrimp. Trade intelligence suggests domestic consumption stayed relatively flat during the first half. A lot of those incoming shipments likely went toward building up warehouse inventories, raw material processing, or supply-chain buffer stock. Bottom line? China is buying, but importers are watching every penny and shopping strictly on price. The US Market: Bouncing Back, but Indonesia Is Losing Ground Over in the United States, demand shows signs of life. June imports hit 75,397 MT, up 4% year-over-year and marking the strongest single month of 2026 so far, even though total firsthalf imports still ended up 6% lower than last year’s numbers. The real headline, though, is who is filling those US freezers. Ecuador saw its exports to the US surge 27% to 143,515 MT,
Issue 48 | Spet - 2026
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while Indonesia watched its market share shrink, dropping 11% down to 62,635 MT. The take-home message? The US market isn’t pulling back on shrimp altogether. Instead, Indonesian exporters are getting squeezed out by Ecuador, whose massive supply volumes and aggressive pricing make it tough for competitors to match. Europe: Playing It Safe European buyers have taken a far more cautious approach this year. Total EU imports of raw frozen and value-added shrimp reached 192,085 MT through June, down 7% in volume and 11% in value year-over-year. To be fair, this slowdown follows a massive 2025, when EU shrimp imports spiked by 21%. After a buying spree like that, European distributors are focused on clearing out existing stock and keeping light inventory. Buyers are far more selective now, favoring ready-to-cook convenience products, smaller pack sizes, and lower price points. Global Production Keep Rising While Prices Drop While buyers hesitate, farms keep producing. World farmed shrimp production is on track to hit 6.34 million MT in 2026, driven largely by Ecuador’s massive output, projected around 1.75 million MT alone. Ecuador is also expanding into processed, value-added products, which made up about a third of its exports in early 2026. When production grows faster than demand, pricing power evaporates. In August, 30/40 count HOSO L. vannamei hovered around USD 4.00/kg (FCA Guayaquil) due to oversupply. Lower global prices give buyers more leverage. For Indonesian exporters to stay profitable, they will need to strictly manage farm-level production costs and processing margins, because global buyers now have plenty of alternative suppliers to choose from. For Indonesia, having shrimp to sell is only half the battle. Knowing where to send it, in what format, and at what price is what actually decides who stays in business. THE CRUST - MIDA
BREAK-Time
DON’T SLEEP ON SHRIMP
S
hrimp does not ask for much. A hot pan, a little seasoning, ten minutes, and it is done. It works as a starter, a main, a salad topping, a skewer at a barbecue. No ingredient punches above its weight quite like it, and the nutrition facts only make the case stronger. To show you what we mean, here is a simple shrimp salad you can throw together on a weeknight, impress guests with at a dinner party, or meal prep for the week ahead.
QUICK SHRIMP SALAD What you need:
For the dressing:
• • • • • •
• • • •
200g cooked, peeled shrimp Half a cucumber, sliced thin A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved One avocado, cubed Half a red onion, sliced thin Fresh parsley or dill
How to make it: • • • • •
Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl Pour dressing over, toss gently Taste, adjust seasoning Serve cold, immediately
Total time: 10 minutes. Serves 2.
Why shrimp, though? Because 100 grams of cooked shrimp delivers 24 grams of protein at just 99 calories. For reference, that beats chicken on efficiency and leaves steak in the dust. Fat content sits at almost zero, and what little there comes from omega-3 fatty acids, the kind that supports heart health. Shrimp also brings selenium, iodine, vitamin B12, and phosphorus along for the ride, making it one of the most nutrient-dense proteins available, farmed or wild. It is lean, fast to cook, endlessly versatile, and honestly, it photographs beautifully. There are few proteins easier to keep on hand and harder to get tired of. THE CRUST - RIZKY Issue 48 | Sept - 2026
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2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard Salt and chili flakes to taste
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