REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- The Fish Quarantine Station and Quality Control (KIPM) of Kupang noted that 7.5 tons of sardines were exported from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province to Australia in April 2018. Sardines from NTT are one of the most popular fishery commodities in Australia, Head of Kupang KIPM Jimmy Elwaren said.

"This year, we exported frozen sardines to that country for the first time," he stated here on Friday.

Sardines exported from NTT are generally supplied by fishermen in the districts of East Flores and Lembata. Tembang fish was exported to Australia in April, with a one-time delivery through Surabaya, East Java. The export value reaches Rp90 million.

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He said Australia is an export destination country, with the highest demand for the fish commodity from the islands-based province.

Australia emerged as the sole importer of sardines from several other destinations, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, and Timor Leste.

According to the KIPM of Kupang, more than 92 tons of sardines were exported to Australia in 2017. The current total exports are higher than the demand for sardines in 2016 that had only reached 32 tons.

"The number and types of exported commodities are relatively varied every month, as it depends on the demand in the buyer country," he explained.

Elwaren stated that in addition to sardines, there is high demand for frozen tuna exported to Australia that reached 1.4 tons worth Rp37 million in April 2018.

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