China seafood exports hit record high in December

In December 2009, the export of China's aquatic products surged to 319,000 tonnes, up 20.9%, with an export value of US$1.2 billion, up 23.7%, hitting a historical high of single month export value.

The export value of aquatic products in 2009 reached US$10.7 billion, up by 1% year-on-year, hitting a historical high after the export value surpassed US$10 billion for the first time last year.

Affected by the global financial crisis, in the first two months in 2009, export value of aquatic products dropped 11.9% year-on-year, rarely-seen in history. Ministry of Agriculture paid great attention, by studying on and dealing with this situation with local authorities, relevant industrial associations, and export-oriented enterprises.

Through concerted efforts, the plummeting export of aquatic products since early 2009 has been kept in control, and the export of aquatic products has shown positive signs, bouncing back since March.

Single-month export value of September, November, and December was US$1.045 billion, US$1.05 billion, and US$1.24 billion respectively, breaking the record of single-month export value for three times in a row. From January to November, the accumulated export value of aquatic products witnessed negative growth, but still witnessed positive growth the whole year.

Meanwhile, Japan, US, EU, and South Korea were still the major export markets for Chinese aquatic products, but the ratio of total export value of the forementioned markets dropped in China's total export value of aquatic products.

China's export to ASEAN countries and Taiwan increased. Exports to Hong Kong kept growing, with diversified export markets.

Coastal provinces such as Shandong, Guangdong, Liaoning, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Hainan provinces were still the major ones in China's export of aquatic products; the total export value of the forementioned provinces accounted for 91.9% of the export value of aquatic products in the country.

The export value of Fujian province grew fast due to its trade with Taiwan, up by 31.3% year-on-year, overtaking Zhejiang province as the fourth largest export province. The inland Jiangxi and Hubei provinces witnessed growth of export value, up by 43.7% and 32.2% respectively.