In 2020, affected by the epidemic, China’s pollock imports and exports have both declined. According to customs data, the total import volume of raw fish last year was about 609,000 tons, down 11%; the export volume of processed products such as fish fillets and frozen chunks was about 192,000 tons, down 28%.
The decline in exports in the fourth quarter was the most significant, with total exports falling 29% year-on-year to 50,000 tons, the lowest level in the past 10 years.
China is the world’s largest importer and exporter of pollock products. Last year, major trading ports strengthened epidemic prevention and control, which affected the efficiency of logistics and processing chains and caused supply shortages. Fish fillets and surimi prices rose to historical highs. Russian sources said that at present, Dalian and Qingdao do not allow Russian bulk carriers to enter the port for unloading, and the cost of transshipment to other ports (such as Busan, South Korea) is higher.
Some sources believe that if the current situation and the pressure on the supply chain are to be improved, the Chinese government must relax its control on imported products to speed up port circulation. However, considering the serious backlog of cargo in the port, once all the ports are opened up, it may cause oversupply and lower prices.
