New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has announced this week that China has become the lead importer of NZ seafood.
Trade figures revealed that the total value of fisheries and aquaculture exports for 2011 was up by 2.9% on the previous year at NZ$1.53bn.
China has become the lead importer of New Zealand seafood overtaking Australia for the first time. The third largest importer is the US, followed by Hong Kong in fourth place.
Altogether NZ$299.6 worth of seafood was imported - the main species being New Zealand Rock Lobster, Hoki and Squid.
Meanwhile, the trade figures also revealed that a lower catch of deepwater species, inshore finfish and shellfish was offset by a higher catch of pelagic species – tuna, squid and mackerel.
Both seafood product exports and aquaculture export volumes were up last year. In fact, aquaculture export earnings were up by a total of 12%.
New Zealand seafood exports do continue to face challenges though despite a successful year. According to MAF, these include the above average exchange rate with the US dollar along with the cost of diesel remaining high.
