Cephalopod exports to China rose 7.6%

From year to date, frozen squid (HS 030749) was the most imported cephalopod product, followed by frozen octopus (HS 030759) and live/fresh/chilled squid (HS 030741). The market did not import live/fresh/chilled octopus (HS 030751).

Data from the International Trade Centre (ITC) revealed that in the first 4 months of this year, frozen squid (HS 030749) imports into China worth US$ 92.8 million, imports of frozen octopus worth US$ 2.04 million and imported  live, fresh, chilled squid worth US$ 98 thousand.

While cephalopod exports to other top 5 markets fell, those to China and Hong Kong increased. In H1//2015, Vietnamese companies earned US$ 11.13 million from cephalopod exports to China and Hong Kong, representing a 7.6% increase from last year. 

China sourced frozen squid from 27 countries. Top 3 sources were the US, South Korea and Indonesia with cumulative value of the first 4 months of 2015 reaching US$ 25.97 million, US$ 16.51 million and US$ 16.21 million.

China imported frozen octopus from 8 countries, but mostly from Japan, Vietnam and Mauritania. The average price of frozen octopus imported by China in the first 4 months of this year ranged from US$ 4.58 to US$ 5.65/ kg.

Processed cephalopod imports of China decreased

China imported processed squid (HS 160554) from 10 countries, with the value in the first 4 months of this year reaching US$ 39.53 million, down from US$ 40.8 million in the same period of 2014. Average price was US$1.65 - US$ 2.29/kg.

Imports of processed octopus  (HS 160555) in the first 4 months of this year reached US$ 7 thousand, down from US$ 9 thousand in the same period of 2014. Italy and South Korea were top suppliers.