Pakistan’s seafood industry has made waves in the international market, with exports to China rising sharply by 25 percent in the first quarter of 2025.
According to official data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), seafood shipments from Pakistan reached $153 million between January and March, up from $121.93 million during the same period last year.
The biggest contributor to this surge has been frozen fish, which led the growth with exports worth $40.10 million, compared to $30.19 million a year earlier. All-inclusively, Pakistan exported 21.83 million kilograms of frozen fish during this period.
Other seafood items also showed impressive growth — fresh or chilled crabs rose to $25.68 million (3.53 million kilograms), up from $22.65 million last year.
Similarly, frozen cuttlefish exports climbed to $20.29 million, while frozen sardines and related species saw a record jump — from just over $3 million in early 2024 to $11.24 million in 2025, amounting to 18.39 million kilograms.
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Experts keep on saying that this consistent upward trend reflects Pakistan’s strengthening fisheries and agricultural cooperation with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Improved cold chain logistics, modern processing facilities, and streamlined certification systems have allowed Pakistani exporters to maintain quality standards and meet growing seafood demand of China.
As per China Economic Net (CEN), Pakistan has now surpassed traditional suppliers like Russia and Indonesia in seafood exports to China. The “green channel” policy for ice-seafood products has been particularly effective in reducing customs delays and preserving freshness, giving Pakistan a competitive edge in the market.
Beyond trade numbers, this growth underscores the broader and long-standing Pakistan–China partnership, which extends across defense, energy, and infrastructure.
Over the decades, bilateral agreements — from the Barter Trade Agreement of 1963 to the modern CPEC framework have played their part in deepening economic ties and paved the way for greater industrial cooperation.
As global demand for high-quality seafood rising, Pakistan’s exporters are optimistic that this momentum will continue through 2025, setting new records and further solidifying China as one of Pakistan’s most valuable trade partners.