Pakistani aquatic products, particularly hairtail (a type of ribbonfish), are gaining increasing traction in the Chinese market.
According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), imports of frozen hairtail (HS Code 03038910) from Pakistan have risen by 27.6% in 2024, reaching USD 3,565,373, up from USD 2,793,326 in 2023. Commenting on this trend, Jessie Hao, International Trade Manager at Prestige International Trading Co., Ltd., said, “China’s demand for high-quality seafood is immense, with annual consumption of hairtail alone reaching up to 1 million tons.
Pakistani exporters are seizing this opportunity by offering a wide variety of nutritious and flavorful aquatic products that cater to the tastes of Chinese consumers.” Prestige International Trading Ltd, which has managed the Pakistan National Pavilion on JD.com for the past three years, has recently expanded its offerings to include aquatic products. The company’s inaugural shipment – comprising 53 tons of frozen hairtail and 22 tons of frozen shrimp – arrived from Karachi Port to Qingdao Port.
These products are now being sold through various offline channels, including restaurants, canteens, hotels, and wholesalers.
According to China Economic Net, in the future, Prestige plans to introduce smaller retail packs of shrimp for online sales, tapping further into the rapidly growing Chinese e-commerce market.
Pakistani hairtail is particularly popular for its tender texture and delicate flavor. Hao explained, “The fish’s silvery sheen and transparent corneas make it visually appealing. Its firm muscles and broad size are particularly attractive to Chinese consumers who favor larger fish fillets.” With competitive pricing and superior quality, Pakistani hairtail is filling a significant gap.
In addition to hairtail, Jessie Hao highlighted that other premium Pakistani aquatic products, such as shrimp, lobster, black tiger prawn, and grouper, are also in demand among Chinese consumers. Currently, 307 Pakistani aquatic enterprises are registered with the GACC for exports to China, some of which have been operating in the market since 2018.