China increases imports of aquatic products from South America and other Asian countries after Japan's ban on seafood imports

Last year, China banned the import of aquatic products from Japan due to nuclear wastewater discharge, which had a profound impact not only on the Japanese market but also on the international market.

According to Nikkei Asia, after the ban was introduced, China's seafood imports immediately decreased by 10%. Especially, imports of shellfish, including scallops, decreased by 11%, while imports of fresh fish decreased by 4%. This sudden shortage has forced China to quickly seek alternative products to meet the growing demand for seafood domestically.

South America has become the main beneficiary of this transformation. Especially Argentina, its exports of sea products to China almost doubled between September 2023 and July 2024. Indonesia's exports to the Chinese market have also increased significantly by 42%, while the UK's exports have grown by around 150%. This import boom not only drives the rebalancing of the global seafood market, but also brings new opportunities for exporting countries to increase production and exports to meet China's needs

China's expansion of importing seafood from South America and other Asian countries represents a new development in the world trade pattern. With the growth of domestic demand and the opening up of new markets, China continues to consolidate its position as a major participant in the world's fisheries sector.