Hong Kong show offers China insight
HONG Kong is to host Seafood Expo Asia again this year, at its Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 8-10
HIGHLY regarded as one of the industry’s most influential trade events, Seafood Expo Asia is introducing an expanded programme of special events and networking opportunities. The event last year welcomed more than 200 exhibiting companies and over 8,600 seafood buyers and suppliers from 71 countries.
With Hong Kong serving as the gateway to China, the fastest growing aquaculture market in the world, a focus of this year’s expo will be to deliver valuable industry insight into the country.
China’s thriving seafood market states will be valued at US$ 100 billion by 2019, according to a 2015 Technavio report.
Liz Plizga, seafood group vice president for show organiser Diversified Communications, said: ‘As China’s middle class continues to grow, Chinese consumers are increasingly looking to purchase imported fish and seafood products.
‘The exposition offers seafood suppliers the opportunity to sell a variety of live, frozen fresh or value added products to meet this increasing consumer demand.’
According to a 2014 Global Trade Atlas report, China imported US$ 8.4 billion worth of seafood from around the world in 2013, an increase of 8.9 per cent over 2012.
A 2014 Euromonitor study also reveals that China’s consumption of particularly fresh fish and shellfish has been steadily increasing since 2008, reaching 36.6 million tonnes in 2013.