Commodity file 03 • Small pelagic • Ex Surabaya, IDSUB
Mackerel
& Round Scad
Rastrelliger kanagurta, Decapterus russelli, D. macrosoma, Auxis spp.
- Origin
- Indonesia
- Catch area
- FAO 57 & 71
- Fishing ground
- WPP 712, 713, 714, 715
- HS code
- 0303.54 · 0303.89 — confirm with broker
- Load port
- Surabaya · IDSUB
- Export markets
- Japan · China · ASEAN · PNG
- Terms
- FOB · CFR · CIF
- Plant approval
- HACCP · KIPM
The volume line. Indian mackerel, round scad and frigate tuna in the counts wet markets and repackers across Asia actually call for, block frozen or IQF, in full container loads out of Surabaya.
01 / Market names
What buyers call it
The same species trades under a different name in every port. If your enquiry uses the local name, we will quote against it.
| Market | Local name | Usual form bought |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Alumahan, galunggong, muroaji, tulingan | Block frozen whole round |
| Indonesia | Kembung, layang, tongkol | Block frozen, IQF |
| Japan | Muroaji, gurukuma | Whole round, dried |
| Thailand | Pla tu, pla sai dang | Whole round, steamed |
| Malaysia | Ikan kembung, ikan selar | Block frozen whole round |
| Vietnam | Cá bạc má, cá nục | Whole round, cannery |
| Singapore | Kembung, hardtail scad | IQF, retail pack |
02 / Size grading
Sizes we grade to
Small pelagics trade on pieces per kilogram, not gram weight. The counts below are the ones we grade to as standard; other counts are possible when landings allow.
| Species | Best-known local name | Counts we grade | Piece weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian mackerel | Alumahan / kembung | 4–6 · 6–8 · 8–10 pcs/kg | 100–250 g |
| Round scad | Galunggong / layang | 6–8 · 8–10 · 10–12 pcs/kg | 80–170 g |
| Shortfin scad | Muroaji | 8–10 · 10–14 pcs/kg | 70–125 g |
| Frigate tuna | Tulingan / tongkol | 2–3 · 3–5 · 5–7 pcs/kg | 150–500 g |
| Short mackerel | Hasa-hasa / pla tu | 8–12 · 12–16 pcs/kg | 60–125 g |
Count tolerance is one piece per kilogram per carton. Grade A is bright eye, intact belly, no gaping. Grade B allows soft belly and goes to dried and smoked processing.
03 / Processing forms
Cuts and presentations
Small pelagics ship overwhelmingly whole round because the buyer wants the fish to look like it came off a boat. Butterfly and fillet are available on order.
WR
Whole round
Ungutted, block frozen in a 10 kg pan. The standard wet market presentation.
WR IQF
Whole round IQF
Individually frozen so the buyer can decant part of a bag. Costs more, moves faster at retail.
WGG
Gutted
Gilled and gutted for buyers repacking into consumer trays.
BTF
Butterfly
Split from the belly, backbone in or out. Used for daing, dried and smoked products.
FLT
Fillet
Skin-on fillet, pin bones in. Small volumes only, cut on request.
BAIT
Bait grade
Ungraded mixed pelagic for longline bait. Cheapest line we run.
04 / Packing
Packing and glazing
| Presentation | Inner pack | Master carton | Glazing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole round block | 10 kg frozen block in poly | 10 kg carton, 1 block | Nil, water glaze in block |
| Whole round block | 5 kg block | 20 kg carton, 4 blocks | Nil |
| Whole round IQF | 1 kg poly bag | 10 kg master, 10 bags | 10% |
| Gutted | 5 kg block or IQF bag | 20 kg master | Nil / 10% |
| Butterfly | 1 kg interleaved | 10 kg master | 10% |
Block frozen is the cheapest way to move volume and the format most wet-market wholesalers across Southeast Asia still prefer. IQF costs roughly 8–12% more per kilo but sells at retail without thawing the whole block, which is what Singapore and Japanese buyers usually want.
05 / Supply
Monthly capacity and MOQ
Monthly supply capacity
100–150 MT
Across all four species combined. Round scad is usually the largest single line at 40–60 MT.
Minimum order quantity
1 × 20 ft
About 10–12 MT. Mixed containers are fine — you can combine species and counts to fill one load.
Peak season
Year round
Landings peak March to June and September to November. The monsoon months are tighter and priced accordingly.
Capacity is shared across all export markets and allocated per contract. Tell us your destination and monthly volume and we will confirm what we can commit before you place a first order.
06 / Shipping lanes
Out of Surabaya to your port
All shipments load at Surabaya, IDSUB, in pre-cooled reefer containers. Transit times below are indicative port-to-port and move with the carrier and the transhipment call.
| Destination | Port code | Transit | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | SGSIN | 3–5 days | Direct |
| Port Klang | MYPKG | 4–7 days | Direct |
| Manila | PHMNL | 5–8 days | Direct or via SGSIN |
| Ho Chi Minh City | VNSGN | 6–9 days | Via SGSIN |
| Laem Chabang | THLCH | 7–11 days | Via SGSIN or MYPKG |
| Shanghai / Ningbo | CNSHA / CNNGB | 10–14 days | Via SGSIN |
| Tokyo / Yokohama | JPTYO / JPYOK | 12–17 days | Via SGSIN or CNSHA |
| Port Moresby | PGPOM | 10–15 days | Via SGSIN or AU hub |
Other ports are quoted on request. FOB Surabaya, CFR and CIF terms are all available; tell us which one you want the price on.
07 / Cold chain
Temperature from plant to discharge
Small pelagics soften quickly once the chain slips, so blocks go from pan to cold store the same shift and containers are pre-cooled before stuffing.
−35°C
Blast freezer, core temperature
−25°C
Cold store holding
−18°C
Reefer setpoint in transit
−18°C
Arrival check at discharge
08 / Documents
What ships with the container
Every shipment leaves Surabaya with a full document set so your broker can lodge clearance without chasing us for paperwork.
- Health certificateIssued by BKIPM / KIPM, the Indonesian fish quarantine authority
- HACCP planThe processing plant operates under an approved HACCP programme
- Certificate of originForm D for ASEAN, Form E for China, Form AJ for Japan
- Catch documentationVessel list, catch certificate and traceability record per lot
- Packing list & invoiceLot number, net and gross weight, glazing % and carton count
- Bill of ladingReefer B/L with the temperature setpoint stated on its face
Import requirements by market
Clearance on the destination side is the importer's responsibility, but we will tell you up front what your market needs and issue documents to match.
| Market | Requirement | Handled by |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Import notification to MHLW under the Food Sanitation Act | Importer |
| China | Consignment via a GACC-registered establishment; importer filing | Both |
| Philippines | SPSIC issued by BFAR before the vessel arrives | Importer |
| Malaysia | Import permit through MAQIS / Department of Fisheries | Importer |
| Singapore | Import licence and consignment declaration to SFA | Importer |
| Thailand | Import permit from the Department of Fisheries | Importer |
| Vietnam | Quarantine registration with NAFIQPM | Importer |
| Papua New Guinea | Import permit from NAQIA | Importer |
Some markets require the exporting establishment to be listed before a first shipment can enter. Ask us which markets our plant is currently listed for — we would rather tell you at enquiry stage than after you have opened an L/C.
Ask for a price on mackerel and scad
Send us the size grade, presentation, destination port and monthly volume you need. We reply with an FOB Surabaya or CFR price, the current stock position and the lead time to your first container.
WhatsApp +62 851-0148-6899