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The section below contains articles from Chinese news and media that focus on trends in relation to seafood imports and exports.

Note: If foreign articles are opened in Google Chrome, they can be automatically translated

🦘 Responses to Treasurer’s “China Plus” policy

Federal Treasurer the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP gave a speech on 6 September, describing the government’s trade diversification policy as “China Plus”. Some Chinese reactions to the speech are linked below.

Sohu.com is hosting this analysis by Li Huanyu of the Observer Network.

The Global Times has this article.
 

🦐 New study estimates cost to industry of market closures

Research from the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology of Sydney (UTS) has attempted to quantify the impact on Australian export industries affected by disrupted access to the mainland China market.

The study contains case studies and calculations of costs for twelve export industries, including rock lobster.

An executive summary and the full working paper can be accessed on the UTS website here.

🐚 China e-commerce abalone sales ranking

Last edition we linked to online retailer Xiaomai Youxuan’s top-selling lobster varieties. This edition we bring you the abalone sales rankings.

See the ranking here.

🏙 China seafood market situation

Despite shipping challenges, volatile prices, pandemic outbreaks, and consumer wariness, this first-hand Guangzhou Daily report from the Huangsha Aquatic Products Market in Guangzhou describes an improving situation for Southern China’s seafood markets.

According to management: “Since the outbreak of the epidemic last year, the transaction volume of high-end seafood in the Huangsha market has decreased, but the transaction volume of mid- and low-end seafood, which is mainly consumed by ordinary households, has not dropped significantly.”

Reuters reports on “surging Chinese fish prices”, stating: “Average wholesale prices of four freshwater fish monitored by the country's agriculture ministry jumped almost 40% from the previous year, according to latest official data, and some popular fish such as grass carp are up by more.”  Reuters attributes the robust prices to China’s other pandemic, African Swine Fever, as consumers continue to avoid pork and turn to fish for affordable protein.

More generally, China’s consumption figures for August showed sluggish growth, as the Delta variant continues to dampen retail activity. Global Times has more.

🦠 People’s Daily: Cold chain products are the secret transmission route of viruses 

The People’s Daily reports that the Covid-19 virus was introduced to Wuhan from outside China.

STAG newsletter readers will be aware of China Customs’ efforts at the border to detect Covid-19 fragments on imported cold chain seafood products. According to the People’s Daily article, the virus may have been introduced to China via this route:

At the end of 2019, there is a possibility that imported cold chain products may be imported into the epidemic in Wuhan South China Seafood Market.

This might impact consumer food safety perceptions for freshly imported seafood products.
 

The section below contains articles focusing on other global seafood markets, including news and media from relevant markets to Australian seafood exporters. 

🍥 Vietnam processors continue to struggle with Delta

Director of the Vietnam General Department of Fisheries said seafood exports in August 2021 dropped sharply for tuna, while Pangasius and shrimp decreased 29.7% compared to the previous month. The slowdown is due to the resurgent epidemic closing production and processing facilities, ports, and markets across the country.

According to DAWE, frozen and thawed basa (Pangasius) fillets from farms in Vietnam have been one of the most commonly and widely eaten imported seafood products in Australia over the last ten years. What will be the impact on Australia’s low-end fish market?

 Read more about Vietnam’s challenges in this detailed article from VnEconomy.

🏈 US retail seafood outlook positive, despite rising prices

Seafoodsource.com has the latest data showing consumers are aware of increasing prices for seafood, but likely to continue buying. The report claims sales will be supported by the positive health perceptions surrounding seafood products and the fact that most seafood consumers are wealthier and thus less restrained by price fluctuations.

Read more here.

🍤 Indian seafood exporters seek diversification

STAG News Bites has reported previously on the Covid-19 related disruptions to India’s seafood (predominantly shrimp) exports to China. Time of India has more on the situation facing Gujarat’s exporters and their efforts to find new markets.

🎌 Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit

The Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit 2021 will be held on 11 – 13 October, with a focus on digital transformation and the investment needed to ensure sustainability in the Japanese seafood sector.

🎏 Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show

The Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show will be held on 2- 4 December in Taipei.

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