China - August 28, 2024

Chinese seafood processors reel in export growth

(Voice_over)

With catches from the East China Sea back on the market after a three-month fishing moratorium, seafood processors in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang are ramping up production to satiate demand from overseas.

At a workshop in Taizhou City, more than 200 workers are peeling, sorting and packaging freshly harvested red shrimp.

The firm's general manager says they currently process about 30 tons of the crustaceans per day, with 95 percent bound for exports.

(Sound_bite)

Yu Xuxin, general manager, aquatic product company:

"Foreign consumers like using this product for seafood rice and seafood salads. Currently, orders for the shrimp are very good, with an estimated increase of 30 to 40 percent compared to previous years."

(Voice_over)

Elsewhere in the city at a factory that processes tinned fish, production is also kicking into high gear.

Company officials say their exports are on a roll, with overseas sales up by over 20 percent so far this year.

(Sound_bite)

Chen Junhui, deputy general manager, aquatic product group:

"Currently, our export orders have risen by 20 to 30 percent compared to last year. Demand has outstripped production. We have secured orders for the next two to three months, and have scheduled production accordingly."

(Voice_over)

Customs data shows that in the first half the year, Taizhou City alone exported more than 33,000 tons of processed aquatic products, an almost 18 percent increase from the same period last year.

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