November 15, 2007

Hainan emerging as major exporter of Tilapia in China

China's island province of Hainan has emerged to be the second biggest exporter of tilapia after Guangdong. This was revealed by officials at the Fourth International Tilapia Industry Development Forum held in China's Haikou from November 13-14.

Since 2003, Hainan's tilapia export volume has been growing at an average annual rate of 41 percent. Tilapia is now the most important aquaculture product exported by farmers in Hainan. Because of their large size, rapid growth and palatability, tilapia has become the focus of aquaculture efforts in China as well as in other regions of Asia.

In 2006, Hainan exported 33,000 tonnes of tilapia worth US$92.6 million. Exports of this freshwater fish in the first nine months of this year, at 35,100 tonnes, had already surpassed total exports for 2006.

As of end-2006, Hainan's tilapia breeding grounds covered an area of 30,000 hectares, while production volume had increased from 101,000 tonnes in 2003 to 195,000 tonnes in 2006.

RMB1=US$0.1346 (Nov 15)