The total value of Australia`s direct export of seafood to China reached A $358 million last year. (photo by Australian Financial Review)
According to the Australian Financial Review, Australia`s seafood exports to China have not grown due to a slowdown in the approval process, as well as the impact of black market transactions in Hong Kong and Vietnam that falsely use Australia`s reputation.
(Steve Ciobo), Australia`s trade minister, today hosted a meeting in Canberra to update information on the benefits of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) to Australia`s economy. A report from Sydney University of Science and Technology, China Seafood Market: opportunities and challenges for Australian exporters, was also released by (The Chinese seafood market: opportunities and challenges for Australian exporters).
It is understood that the total value of seafood exports in Australia is a little over $1 billion in 2013, but it has reached a $1.4 billion in 2017, mainly due to sales in the Chinese market. China`s demand for imported seafood has increased as a result of domestic food safety concerns, and the total value of Australia`s direct export of seafood to China rose to $3.58 million in 2017, far beyond the $85 million in the previous year. China`s fish consumption is expected to account for 38% of the world`s total fish consumption by 2030.
But Fabian (Mike Fabinyi), a senior researcher at the (School of Communications) School of Communications at Sydney University of Science and Technology, said the "grey export trade" from Hong Kong and Vietnam posing as Australian seafood could damage Australia`s reputation in the Chinese market.
At the same time, it is difficult for Australia to enter the list of seafood products approved by China (China Approved Species List of Seafood). Of the 126 seafood categories listed on the list, 51 are not produced in Australia. The report notes that the approval process for entry to the list is slow and requires high-level consultations on the part of the government. Restrictions such as China`s quarantine time limits and labelling policies on imports also curbed the growth of Australian seafood exports.
Australian exporters still have a strong position in the Chinese market, the survey said. If Australia`s government stepped up efforts to remove some of the trade barriers, Australia`s seafood exports to China will be higher. The survey commissioned by the Australia-China Relations Institute (Australia-China Relations Institute) called on Australia`s government to step up its intervention in seafood exports.
