(TheFishSite) Tilapia is a worldwide fish of great commercial importance. In China, tilapia is an important species with annual production of more than 1.3 mmt, which accounted for about 45% of the total tilapia production in the world in 2008. Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi Provinces ranked top three in annual production in China. However, with over two decades of rapid growth, tilapia aquaculture in China has been facing many challenges in the past years.
Low Market Prices
The market price of tilapia has changed drastically over the past few years. In 2009, the market price of 500-g live tilapia from farmers dropped to only 7 yuan/kg (U.S. $0.16/kg). In response, many tilapia farmers began to stock carp or other species instead of tilapia. The culture area in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian Provinces also declined.
In early 2011, market prices reached 10 yuan/kg, but the situation was still marginal for farmers. Among the tilapia farms visited just after the first harvest, a small number were considering restocking with another species. In 2011, integrated farms were more resilient, with profits from pigs compensating to some extent for the loss from tilapia. But for farmers raising tilapia as stand-alone enterprises, an estimated 50% suffered a loss.
Escalating Costs
Costs for labor, feed, chemicals and infrastructure have greatly increased in recent years. Labor rates have escalated by at least 50% over the last three years. Other key input prices have also increased substantially (see Table 1). With the high costs and low market prices, many farmers are losing their confidence in tilapia farming.
Processors in China have taken a double hit in recent years. Just as the cost of labor has increased dramatically, currency exchange rates have also inflicted pressure. The value of China’s yuan renminbi increased to the U.S. dollar by nearly 7% from 2009 to 2011.