BEIJING: EU wild whitefish imports from China decelerated almost to a standstill in 2013, which reflects the slowing of the Chinese re-processing sector, according to the latest report from the EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP).
With just 0.1% or 798 metric tons up year-on-year to 620,484t, EU wild whitefish imports from China showed a much lower growth rate than previous years: in 2011, for instance, imports went up by 11%.
Almost zero growth in EU wild whitefish imports from China was driven by the fall in the trade of haddock frozen fillets, down by 25%year-on-year to 25,793t.
EU imports of Alaska pollock and pollock frozen fillets, the most imported whitefish species from China, totaled 397,771t in 2013, which is only 2% up over the same time a year ago.