January 10, 2023

 

A look at production and export of China's main aquaculture products

 

Based on the statistics of the General Administration of Customs, China exported 3.74 million tonnes of edible aquatic products in 2021, with an export value of US$21.539 billion.

 

Main export destinations were Japan, the United States, South Korea and the Philippines. The export value of shrimp, eel, tilapia and large yellow croaker were ranked the highest in 2021.

 

Shrimp

 

China has become the world's largest importer of oriental shrimp in recent years due to a surge in domestic consumption. In 2021, China exported 190,000 tonnes of shrimp products worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. This amount included 115,800 tonnes of small shrimps and oriental shrimp, 26,000 tonnes of small shrimps, 21,600 tonnes of small shrimp meat, 11,220 tonnes of oriental shrimp meat and 7,600 tonnes of freshwater crayfish meat.

 

In the same year, China exported 103,000 tonnes of shrimp products to Asia, a year-on-year increase of 19.1%, and 30,000 tonnes of shrimp products to North America, a year-on-year decrease of 18.3%. Shrimp products exported to South America were 25,000 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 73.0%.

 

Tilapia

 

Data show that China's output of tilapia in 2021 totaled 1.6626 million tonnes, an increase of 7,200 tonnes compared with 2020.

 

The country's tilapia production mainly concentrates in regions with high temperatures like Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi. In 2021, Guangdong's tilapia production topped with a total volume of 738,000 tonnes, accounting for 45% of the national tilapia output, followed by Hainan, with an output of 316,700 tonnes. Guangxi ranked third in tilapia production, with an output of 253,600 tonnes.

 

Tilapia is exported in the form of live tilapia, fresh or chilled tilapia and frozen tilapia. According to Chinese customs data, the export volume of frozen tilapia in 2021 totaled 78,800 tonnes, fetching an export value of US$171.7643 million.

 

In 2021, Fujian Province recorded the largest export volume and value of frozen tilapia in China. Its export volume was 35,005.42 tonnes, and the export value totaled US$99.3768 million.

 

Guangdong Province was the second largest exporter, with an export volume and value lower than those of Fujian Province by 11,186.03 tonnes and US$57.5956 million, respectively.

 

Third on the list is Hainan Province, with an export volume and value of 18,275.55 tonnes and US$27.4778 million, respectively.

- David Lin, eFeedLink