March 6, 2007

Baked eel exports from China's Fujian province makes a strong recovery

Baked eel exports from China's Fujian province is making a strong recovery, with January export volumes growing 87.65 percent to 3,000 tonnes while values grew 43.92 percent to US$33 million. 

Japan remains the top destination for baked eels from the province, accounting for 87 percent of exports.

Baked eels are the signature export product from Fujian's aquaculture industry. The discovery of banned chemical malachite green in July 2005 led to a short-lived ban on aqua-products from the province. Although exports were resumed in November the same year, volumes had been declining all the way to July 2006.

After August 2006, Fujian's baked eel export grew for five consecutive months, with the resultant total for the year at 23,800 tonnes, up 9.72 percent on-year. Export value of US$300 million was down 2 percent on-year however.

Customs authorities in Fuzhou, the provincial capital of the province, said that thanks to the collaboration between government authorities, industrial organisations and private enterprises, most of the baked eel exports were able to meet requirements for chemical residues set by importing countries.