November 1, 2012

China's seafood export returns rises slightly in the first half of 2012, as compared to dairy, meat, horticulture, timber and oil.

Seafood New Zealand - a new body formed by the Seafood Industry Council - said exports rose 1%, from US$699 million in the first half of 2011 to US$706 million.

It attributed the increase to a range of markets and species rather than one spectacular performer, but said exports of hoki to China for further processing, before being largely re-exported to the US, was probably the most significant factor.

The export value for the eight months to the end of August showed an increase in returns from US$20 million to US$31 million. Seafood NZ said this was not just a result of an increase in the hoki quota catch in New Zealand, but also an increase of 25% in the average value achieved in China (after freight and insurance were deducted), from US$2.26 to US$2.82 a kilogramme.

Seafood exports to Spain, Greece and Italy fell significantly in the first half of 2012, compared with 2011. Seafood NZ said the decrease appeared to have hurt sales of most species, but exports of squid, ling and hake might also have been depressed by difficulties with export certificates issued by New Zealand for fish caught by foreign charter vessels.