BEIJING: It appears China’s export growth in seafood is being driven by its fisheries sector. According to data from China General Administration of Customs, China saw a jump in shipments of mackerel. Exports rose 57 percent to 199,000 tons worth USD 369 million (EUR 314 million), a rise of 53.4 percent. These shipments accounted for five percent of overall exports in the first half of 2017 in value terms. Shrimp, meanwhile, contributed to 10.6 percent of exports in value terms, with 66,200 tons exported worth USD 799 million (EUR 680 million) – a rise of 14.8 percent and 17.1 percent, respectively.
For tilapia, exporters saw a 7.58 percent increase in the volume exported in the first half of 2017, with a 4.4 percent rise in value terms to USD 552 million (EUR 470 million) compared to the same period in 2016. Tilapia contributed 7.52 percent of overall exports in the first half of 2017. China also saw a falloff in exports of crabs and shellfish produced locally. With domestic consumption rising fast, it’s perhaps not surprising that exports of crabs dropped 14.1 percent in volume to 26,100 tons and slipped 10.4 percent in value to USD 385 million (EUR 328 million).
