China's aquatic product export tops $10 bln

BEIJING, March 1 (Chinese media) -- China's aquatic product export volume valued

at 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, making it the biggest sources, or 26.2

percent of the country's total farm produce exports, according to the Ministry

of Agriculture (MOA) statistics.

China exported 2.97 million tonnes of aquatic products last year, a

year-on-year drop of 3.2 percent, but the export value was8.9 percent higher

than 2007, due to rising prices, the MOA said Saturday.

The total import and export volume rose 4.9 percent to 6.85 million tonnes,

worth 16.02 billion U.S. dollars, up 10.7 percent from a year earlier.

Influenced by the United States import ban on four Chinese aquatic products

in 2007, fearing it contained carcinogen and other harmful substances, and

"dumpling poisoning" case in Japan in early 2008, China's aquatic products

export faced difficulties for some time.

The situation began to turn around since last March thanks to efforts from

various sides, the ministry said.

Japan remained China's biggest overseas market, although the export value

was down 5.8 percent from a year ago, according to the ministry.

MOA official noted the aquatic product export would face severe challenges

in 2009 as the global financial crisis deepened.

He said the ministry would take measures to secure and expand market to

ensure a stable export in 2009.