January 6, 2009
China's '08 aqua exports may surpass US$10 billion
The value of China aquatic product exports is expected to surpass US$10 billion in 2008 for the first time in history, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MA).
China exported 2.4 million tonnes of aquatic products in January to October 2008, slipping 0.3 percent from a year ago.
The value of the exports leaped 11.3 percent to US$8.6 billion because of rising export prices of some products.
The exports reached 259,000 tonnes and were worth US$980 million in October, growing 5.1 percent and 24 percent year on year, respectively.
China saw its catfish exports rocket 803.2 percent in volume and 770.3 percent in value year on year in the period, while export prices of tilapia and shrimp respectively soared 34.9 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
China also exported more aquatic products to emerging markets in the period as the volume and value of its exports to ASEAN countries hiked 48.7 percent and 85.4 percent year on year.
Exports to the EU leaped 9.3 percent in volume and 16.3 percent in value.
