Pakistan’s seafood exports to China rise 41% in first seven months

August 24, 2026

Pakistan’s seafood exports to China rose 41% year-on-year to US$220 million in the first seven months of 2026, up from US$156 million during the same period last year, according to China’s customs data. Frozen fish, cuttlefish, squid, sardines, crabs, octopus and shrimp were among the leading exports, with Fujian, Guangdong, Shandong and Zhejiang serving as major destinations. Pakistani officials said around 200 seafood exporters and 10 fish-meal producers are now registered with Chinese customs, while preferential tariff access under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement is further supporting the sector’s growth.

BEIJING, Aug 23 (APP):Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached US$ 220 million in the first seven months of the current year, marking a robust 41 percent year-on-year increase from Us $156 million in the same period last year, as per the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

The trade basket reflected strong Chinese demand across a broad spectrum of marine varieties, led by frozen fish, cephalopods, and live crustaceans.

Miscellaneous frozen whole fish (HS 0303.8990) constituted the largest single category, generating US $ 40.04 million on shipments of 19,834 metric tons. Frozen cuttlefish and squid varieties (HS 0307.4390 and HS 0307.4310) contributed a combined US$ 36.39 million, underscoring high consumption in Chinese culinary and processing sectors.

Frozen sardines and sprats (HS 0303.5300) yielded US$ 19.49 million (22,458 metric tons), while live and chilled mud crabs (HS 0306.3399) fetched US$ 18.70 million. Other prominent export items included frozen octopus (US$ 9.16 million), frozen fish fillets and meat (US$ 7.71 million), frozen shelled shrimps and prawns (US$ 6.86 million), and frozen flatfish (US$ 5.71 million), China Economic Net reported on Sunday.

China’s southern and eastern coastal gateways served as the primary landing hubs for Pakistani marine cargo. Fujian emerged as the leading destination, absorbing US$ 32.58 million (21.14% share) to supply its extensive seafood processing, canning, and re-export industries. Guangdong ranked second, importing US$ 27.50 million (17.84% share), driven largely by high consumer demand in the Greater Bay Area for fresh and live marine species.

Shandong and Zhejiang accounted for US$ 22.88 million (14.85%) and US$ 22.04 million (14.30%) respectively, while Shanghai (US$ 13.30 million) and Yunnan (US$ 11.21 million) recorded steady inflows.

Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor at the Pakistan Consulate Guangzhou, told China Economic Net that around 200 Pakistani seafood exporters and 10 fish-meal producers now held formal registration with China’s customs authority, widening the base of companies legally able to ship directly to Chinese buyers a shift that helps explain the outsized jump in fish-meal exports.

He further said that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement has extended zero- or reduced-tariff access to an expanded list of seafood species, with Pakistani exporters and GACC continuing to negotiate the addition of further species to the preferential list.

“Seafood has become one of the faster-growing non-textiles, non-copper categories in bilateral trade, complementing traditional exports such as cotton yarn and agricultural products. Pakistan’s coastal fisheries and processing capacity are increasingly aligned with Chinese market requirements for quality and consistency”, he stated.

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