Zhanjiang Aquatic Product Exports Grow 50.9% in First Five Months

September 2026

    Zhanjiang, known as "China's Capital of Shrimp" and "China's Capital of Golden Pompano," exported 60,000 tons of aquatic products in the first five months of 2026, up 50.9% year-on-year, with export value reaching RMB 2.09 billion, according to Zhanjiang Customs.

    The growth is driven by a strategic shift from raw material exports to value-added processed products. Zhanjiang Customs has helped 15 local seafood enterprises obtain overseas registration for markets including the EU and Vietnam, while guiding companies to develop prepared dishes such as shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, and wontons. "Our shrimp dumplings, spring rolls, and wontons carry a distinctive Cantonese flavor and are very popular in North America," said Chen Simin, manager of Guangdong Guomei Aquatic Food Co., Ltd.

Customs has also streamlined the registration process for aquaculture farms, improving efficiency by about 40% to ensure stable raw material supply. A green channel for perishable products offers "5+2" appointment-based inspection and "cloud issuance" of certificates. "We pack in the afternoon, ship overnight, and the goods arrive in the Vietnamese market the next morning," said Li Xiaohua, head of Leizhou Beibu Gulf Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.

    Market diversification is also accelerating. In the first half of 2026, Zhanjiang's agricultural exports to ASEAN, Latin America, and Africa grew by 24.3%, 61%, and 61.4% respectively. Key export products include tilapia (RMB 830 million, up 17.2%), shrimp (RMB 440 million, up 8.3%), and live oysters (up 133.1%).

    For seafood trade professionals, Zhanjiang offers a model of how a traditional raw material hub can evolve into a supplier of branded, value-added products for premium international markets.

For more information about our seafood products and export capabilities, please contact our sales team.