The Asian Seafood Exposition returns to Hong Kong this year from September 3-5, 2013. Scheduled to take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, this event is expected to attract over 6,000 buyers from 50 countries and more than 150 exhibiting companies from 25 countries including China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Mary Larkin, Vice President of Seafood Expositions at Diversified Business Communications said Hong Kong was selected as the location for this year's Asian Seafood Exposition because the territory is well positioned as a re-export center for seafood products in Asia.
According to Larkin the rationale behind showcasing a greater variety of premium seafood this year originates from increasing demand in China for higher value products such as lobster, crab, abalone, scallops, oysters, mussels and caviar.
Ms. Larkin explains, “Rising wealth and income levels in China are creating an increasing appetite for premium seafood products, both domestic and imported, which in turn is providing new opportunities for producers and exporters of high-end fish and seafood products.”
Research indicates that there is a strong link between income growth and seafood consumption. With seafood culturally considered to be both healthy and prestigious on the mainland, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations predicts that seafood consumption in China is likely to rise from the current average levels of 12 kilograms per person to 36 kilograms by 2020.
Ms. Larkin also points out that Hong Kong itself enjoys a growing and competitive seafood market. Figures released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reflect that the value of Hong Kong's seafood market is approximately USD 2.68 billion, comprising local supplies of USD 128 million, and USD 2.55 billion worth of imported seafood products.
Like other diversified expositions, The 2013 Asian Seafood Exposition is co-located with Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong, whch brings a higher total number of visitors to the show, even if they are more diverse and don't source internationally
The China Fisheres and Seafood Expo, held this year in Dalian in November, remains by far the largest seafood industry trade show in China, with 2,300 booths, 900 companies and 17,000 visitors from 84 countries.