Fujian province exported a total of 725,000 tons of aquatic products, in 2013, putting it at the top in China, in foreign exchange profits for the first time, worth around $5.1 billion, for a year-on-year increase of 5.15 percent in export volume and 6.88 percent in earnings. In spite of the the economic downturn, Fujian's export volume has continued to rise.

Fujian has given a lot of attention to brand building for its marine products and has cultivated more advantageous products, such as grouper, shrimps, and abalone, which has helped drive export growth. Statistics for 2013 show 99 percent of its aquatic products meeting quality and safety standards, up 0.4 percentage point over 2012, and maintaining a quality rate above 97 percent for seven years in a row.

Fujian has more than 60 types of aquatic products for export and five enterprises whose annual export values exceed $100 million. And it has tried hard to expand its export markets over the years, to not only Japan and the US, but also ASEAN nations, and gradually the EU. In 2013, its aquatic product exports to ASEAN countries were worth $1.33 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.36 percent, while exports to Taiwan amounted to $895 million, up 12.7 percent, and exports to EU, $195 million, up 36.4 percent, with continued growth also to emerging markets.

Fujian says it will continue to encourage enterprises to get certified for better global sales and get its enterprises to go abroad via trade expos, such as the China International (Xiamen) Fisheries Expo and Cross-Straits (Fuzhou) Fisheries Expo.

By Lu Ting from China Daily Fujian Bureau, and Zhao Qian

Edited by Roger Bradshaw