January 15, 2007

China's Hainan's aqua-product export grows nearly 40 percent

According to Hainan's Department of Marine and Fishery, the island's export of aqua-products hit 66,000 tonnes worth US$ 229 million last year, growing 38.8 percent and 39.6 percent respectively.

Exports by November already exceeded that of the whole year in 2005, clocking the fastest growth in aqua-products export ever for the province.

Hainan's tilapia, shrimp and hairtail are well-known and competitive in international markets. Tilapia, especially, gained more prominence as a mainstream product of the province as local production now rivals that of Guangdong. Export volumes for tilapia reached 29,000 tonnes from January- November 2005, growing 50 percent on-year. Shrimp exports hit 15,900 tonnes, growing 59.7 percent while hairtail exports were 12,000 tonnes, growing 25 percent on-year. These three products have come to symbolize Hainan's aqua-product export.     

Markets for Hainan's aqua-products has expanded from US, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong to include Canada, the UK and the EU.