REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANADO -- North Sulawesi's Ikan Kayu (preserved fish) is becoming increasingly popular in the international market following a rise in the number of export destination countries.

"In the third quarter of 2015, Ikan Kayu was exported to five countries comprising South Africa, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand," Head of North Sulawesi's Foreign Trading Affairs Hasudungan Siregar stated here, Tuesday.

He explained that usually small quantities of Ikan Kayu products were only exported to Japan and the United States, but this time, the market has expanded to South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand.

"Some 1,450 tons of Ikan Kayu products were exported to the five countries and resulted in foreign exchange earnings worth US$8.07 million for the country," Siregar noted.

The largest export destination was Japan, with 1,385 tons, thereby generating a total of US$7.83 million in foreign exchange.

Read: Indonesia fish production highest in ASEAN

Further, the second-largest export destination was South Africa, with 22.51 tons and earned US$146,943 in foreign exchange earnings followed by the United States, with exports reaching 6.34 tons and generating US$62,766 in foreign exchange.

Some 36 tons of Ikan Kayu products were exported to Taiwan and resulted in US$25,556 in foreign exchange, while 1.24 tons worth US$9,065 were exported to Thailand.

Siregar explained that Ikan Kayu is processed through a heating process at a specific temperature, resulting in lumber-like hardened products that are well-preserved and can even be stored for long periods of time.

Ikan Kayu originated in North Sulawesi and has a specific characteristic, which is different from other regions in Indonesia. It has a good quality and taste, he added.

"The government will continue to work with the exporters in North Sulawesi, so that they can fulfill the demands of the foreign market," he stated.

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