Pakistan’s Seafood Exports to China Skyrocket by 41% in First Seven Months
Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached an impressive $220 million in the first seven months of 2026, marking a 41% year-on-year surge from $156 million in the same period last year, according to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
The trade data highlights the strong demand for various marine varieties in China, with frozen fish, cephalopods, and live crustaceans leading the way.
Key export categories include:
- Frozen whole fish: (HS 0303.8990) generating $40.04 million on shipments of 19,834 metric tons.
- Frozen cuttlefish and squid: (HS 0307.4390 and HS 0307.4310) contributing $36.39 million.
- Frozen sardines and sprats: (HS 0303.5300) yielding $19.49 million (22,458 metric tons).
- Live and chilled mud crabs: (HS 0306.3399) fetching $18.70 million.
Other significant export items include frozen octopus ($9.16 million), frozen fish fillets and meat ($7.71 million), frozen shelled shrimps and prawns ($6.86 million), and frozen flatfish ($5.71 million).
Fujian emerged as Pakistan’s leading seafood destination, absorbing $32.58 million (21.14% share), while Guangdong ranked second with $27.50 million (17.84% share). Shandong and Zhejiang contributed $22.88 million (14.85%) and $22.04 million (14.30%), respectively. Shanghai and Yunnan recorded steady inflows of $13.30 million and $11.21 million, respectively.
Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor at the Pakistan Consulate Guangzhou, attributed this growth to several factors:
- The expansion of zero- or reduced-tariff access for seafood under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
- The increasing alignment of Pakistan’s coastal fisheries and processing capacity with China’s market requirements.
- The registration of around 200 Pakistani seafood exporters and 10 fish-meal producers with China’s customs authority, enabling direct shipments to Chinese buyers.
