Zhanjiang exported 540 million yuan ($85.4 million) worth of aquatic products in January, up 19.9 percent year-on-year, Zhanjiang Customs announced on March 5.

General trade, which increased by 14.8 percent to reach 500 million yuan this year, remained the largest part of its foreign trade, accounting for 93.1 percent.

Local private enterprises were the major driving force behind local aquatic exports, as their exports accounted for 48.9 percent of the total. The export value also grew by 40.3 percent to 260 million yuan.

Taiwan and African markets have shown strong growth. The former has recorded an export value of 37.54 million yuan, up 180 percent, while the latter registered an export value of 32.37 million yuan, an increase of 68 percent.

Conversely, aquatic exports to the United States dropped by 6.4 percent to 210 million yuan in January.