SIAL launches a new show in South China

SIAL China South will take place in Shenzen, Greater Bay region, South China from 28th - 30th October 2021.

This new event expects to gather
800 exhibitors and 25,000 professional visitors.

The show will strictly comply with government policy and best practices concerning health and safety measures.

For more information, contact: Fernando Medina Zenoff by clicking here

NZ upgrades free trade deal with China

Source:  The Age, 26th January 2021

After eight years and thirty rounds of negotiations, the New Zealand government has put pen to paper on what has been called the world’s largest free-trade agreement.

The deal offers some New Zealand goods faster access to Chinese markets and a reduction in tariffs.

To read the full article, click here

Image: BT Times Online

China Government briefing on imported cold chain measures

Source: China.org.cn

To download a translated report of the SCIO briefing on China's import and export performance of 2020 and imported cold chain measures click here

Image:  Dragon Social

China's frozen food theory has shoppers shunning imports

Source:  The Age, 23rd January 2021

Many Chinese shoppers grow reluctant to buy overseas food products after COVID-19 infections were reported among people handling such items.

Seafood imports by China tumbled 12.5 percent last year, including a plunge of 32 percent in December from a year ago. 

To read the full article, click here

Image: United Patriot News

Hong Kong's slump expected to continue until first half of 2021

Source:  South China Morning Post, 25th January 2021

The Hong Kong Retail Management Association says sales could remain as much as 30 percent below 2019 levels for the first six months of the year.

It also warns of a possible wave of lay-offs in the sector following the end of the government’s Employment Support Scheme in November.

Read more, click here

Image:  Hong Kong Business

Federal report says pandemic hit seafood industry hard

Source: Taiwan News, 16th January 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has taken away about a third of Taiwan's commercial fishing industry's revenue, according to a federal report.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said revenues from catch brought to the docks by commercial fishermen fell 29 percent over the course of the first seven months of the year. Revenues declined every month from March to July, including a 45 percent decrease in July.

To read the full article, click here

Image: Asian Scientist

Middle Eastern and African seafood markets poised for growth

Source:  Seafood Source, 25th January 2021

Demand for seafood products in the Middle East and Africa has been rising steadily, a trend that is likely to persist through 2027.

The report, “Middle East and Africa Seafood Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis,” found the value of the seafood market in the two regions are projected to grow from USD 9.3 billion in 2019 to USD 10.7 billion in the next six years.

To read the full article, click here

Image: Finn stock/Shutterstock

Singapore economy's worst-ever recession

Source:  CNBC, 3rd January 2021

Singapore’s economy contracted by 5.8 percent year over year in 2020, advance estimates by the Ministry of Trade and Industry showed.

That’s better than the official forecast for an annual contraction of between 6 percent and 6.5 percent, as activity picked up further in the fourth quarter following the easing of Covid-related restrictions.

Click here to access the full article

Image: Yahoo News

New Japanese law means world’s three biggest markets say no

Source: IUU Watch, 4th December 2021

Japan has made a milestone contribution to the international fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The government has passed a new law which, once developed and implemented, will prevent IUU-sourced seafood from entering the Japanese market. The law will help to bring Japan into alignment with the EU and the USA, marking a pivotal moment in international ocean governance as the world’s three largest seafood consumers all definitively bar products sourced by IUU fishing from their markets.

To read the full article, click here

Image:  Translate Media

Desperate restaurants defy Japan's virus curbs

Source: Japan Times, 20th January 2021

While many restaurants in Tokyo are following the requests from Government to comply with curfews in return for subsidies, others are starting to break ranks.

Ikka Dining Project Ltd., which operates 71 restaurants, initially cut its hours, but then reversed course.

To read more, click here

Image: Bloomberg

Japan likely to extend COVID-19 state of emergency

Source:  Japan Times, 27th January 2021

A growing number of Japanese people believe it will be necessary to extend the state of emergency for parts of the country continuing to see a high number of coronavirus cases.

The state of emergency, which entails urging the public to refrain from going outside unnecessarily and asking restaurants and bars to shorten their opening hours, could remain in place until the end of February. The current end date is 7 February.

To read more, click here

Image: AFP-JIJI

Deflation fears fueled in Japan over slow wage growth

Source: Japan Times, 26th January 2021

A return to deflation is a nightmare scenario for Japanese policymakers after years of arduous efforts to prevent prices from falling, but the coronavirus pandemic is raising fears that it may become a reality.

The economy is increasingly facing downside risks following a second state of emergency declared over the novel coronavirus in Tokyo, Osaka and some other prefectures, hitting demand especially in the services sector.

To read more, click here

Image: Nikkei Asian Review