The gap in Japan's seafood exports to China has been filled by other countries
2024-08-26
한어Русский языкEnglishFrançaisIndonesianSanskrit日本語DeutschPortuguêsΕλληνικάespañolItalianoSuomalainenLatina
An article published on August 24 in Japan's Nikkei Asian Review, titled: Since banning Japanese aquatic products a year ago, China has begun to turn to importing South American products. A year ago (from August 24, 2023), China completely suspended the import of aquatic products (including edible aquatic animals) originating from Japan to cope with the impact of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Today, China has filled the gap in related demand by purchasing seafood from South America, other Asian countries and other parts of the world. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China show that from September last year to July this year, China's overall imports of aquatic products and products have decreased year-on-year.
Before the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, China imported a large amount of scallops and other seafood from Japan. In the first eight months of 2023, China imported $290 million worth of "fish and other aquatic invertebrates" from Japan (original text - editor's note). Now, other countries have filled the gap. From September last year to July this year, relevant exports to China from Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Argentina increased by 42%, about 150% and nearly 200% respectively.
Toru Nishihama, chief economist at the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, said: "This situation is similar to the trade between the United States and South America and China. When imports from the United States decreased due to the US-China trade friction, imports from South America showed an upward trend." The Japanese government has been trying to improve this situation and called on China to lift the ban on importing aquatic products from Japan. Although relevant consultations are still ongoing, it is almost impossible for China to change its policy. On August 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference: "It is completely legitimate, reasonable and necessary for all countries, including China, to take corresponding preventive and response measures to safeguard food safety and people's health."
Japan's seafood companies have been trying to find other buyers. About 90% of Japan's scallops are produced in factories in Hokkaido, which have increased exports to the United States and Southeast Asia. Hokkaido Hakodate Customs said that from January to June this year, local scallops shipped to the United States doubled year-on-year to 3.6 billion yen (25 million US dollars), and scallops shipped to Vietnam increased by about 9 times to 3.1 billion yen. Even so, Japan's overall scallop exports still fell 37% to 24 billion yen in these 6 months. Currently, the United States has replaced China as the largest buyer of Japanese scallops. (Translated by Cui Xiaodong) ▲
