Pakistan’s seafood exports to China surge 25% in early 2025, reaching $153 million

Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached $153 million in the first quarter of 2025, up from $121.93 million in the same period in 2024, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

China Economic Net (CEN) reported that frozen fish led the growth with exports worth $40.10 million, compared to $30.19 million last year, totaling 21.83 million kilograms in volume in 2025. Exports of fresh or chilled crabs reached $25.68 million, totalling 3.53 million kilograms, up from $22.65 million in the same period of 2024.

Similarly, frozen cuttlefish exports climbed to $20.29 million, amounting to 8.04 million kilograms, up from $19.83 million last year. Notably, frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling, or sprats recorded remarkable growth, soaring to $11.24 million, totalling 18.39 million kilograms from just over $3 million a year earlier.

The steady growth reflects the deepening agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as well as Pakistan’s expanding access to the Chinese market through improved cold chain logistics and certification systems, stated CEN.

CEN reported that Pakistan has already surpassed Russia and Indonesia in the seafood category, which exported seafood worth $8.39 million and $1.33 million, respectively. The “green channel” clearance for ice-seafood products has been crucial in maintaining product quality and value, said CEN.

Pakistan-China relationship covers security, defence, economic and diplomatic aspects, which is built on strategic, geopolitical and shared values. So far, Pakistan and China have agreed on the Barter Trade Agreement of 1963, the Machinery and Technical Support Agreement of 1966, the Trade Protocol of 1975, the China-Pakistan Border Trade Agreement of 1985, and the Technical and Financial Assistance Agreement for the Saindak Mining Project of 1984.

In 1989, they signed an agreement to protect bilateral investments. This paved the way for Chinese firms like Huawei, Zong, and Haier to enter Pakistan. The next major development was the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a transformative economic initiative.