SEAFOODNEWS.COM [FishFirst] translated by Amy Zhong – March 12, 2018

Recent statistics show China has imported 350,500 tons of seafood products in January, which rose 42.58 percent from the same period last year. Meanwhile, it exported 436,300 tons, which contracted by 0.34 percent. The aquatic import value reached $1.045 billion USD, which increased 48.71 percent, while the export value rose by 8.86 percent to $2.197 billion USD.

China imported seafood from 83 different countries and regions in January. Among all the exporters, Russia outruns the others regarding export value and is the largest exporter to China. Russia is followed by the United States, Norway, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand and New Zealand. These 10 countries have supplied China with 248.4-thousand-ton seafood, which accounts for 71 percent of China’s total imports. The aquatic value is $739 million USD, which is 70.75 percent of the total. Seafood exports from Norway increased rapidly compared with exports from other countries. The volume grew by 92.54 percent from the same period last year, while the value skyrocketed by 151.45 percent.

In the meantime, China sold seafood products to 152 different countries and regions in January. The 10 largest buyers with regard to import value are Japan, America, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico and Canada. They imported 270,000 tons of seafood in total, which made up 62 percent of China’s total export. Their import value was $1.644 billion USD, which is 74.85 percent of the total number. It should be noted there are different changes to these countries’ imports in January. For example, the export value to America, Philippines and Canada has dropped at an average rate of 9.2 percent compared with the same period last year. But the value has increased to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Mexico at an average rate of 29.69 percent.