Nearly Half Of China's Seafood Exports To Africa Come From Fujian, With The First Eight Months Seeing A Record High For The Same Period.

According to data released by Xiamen Customs, Fujian's aquatic product exports to Africa reached 3.58 billion yuan in the first eight months of 2026, a record high for the same period and accounting for 49.4% of the total national aquatic product exports to Africa during the same period, maintaining its leading position nationwide since 2012. Nearly one yuan of every two yuan of aquatic product exports from Fujian to Africa comes from Fujian. Relying on its mature aquaculture and processing system, Fujian's aquatic products are rapidly reaching African consumers' tables.

In terms of product category structure, frozen products account for more than half of Fujian's exports to Africa. From January to August, Fujian exported 1.81 billion yuan worth of frozen products to Africa, including 860 million yuan worth of frozen tilapia, nearly half of the total frozen product exports; 410 million yuan worth of frozen mackerel; and 60.13 million yuan worth of frozen catfish. Processed products saw even faster growth: exports of processed or preserved sardines, small sardines, and herring or shad reached 1.3 billion yuan during the same period, a year-on-year increase of 37.8%, the largest increase among the major categories.

Tilapia is Fujian's top-selling frozen food export to Africa, and the significant role of the African market in China's tilapia exports is supported by data. According to the "Frozen Food Strategy January 2026 China Tilapia Export Data Analysis Report," Côte d'Ivoire was China's second-largest export destination for tilapia that month, with exports reaching 11,551 tons, accounting for 20.47% of total exports that month, second only to Mexico. Of the top ten export destinations, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon are all African countries. Fujian, along with Guangdong and Hainan, are China's core tilapia exporting provinces, accounting for over 95% of the national total exports, forming the foundation for its exports to Africa.

The competition in the mackerel market is even more intense. In the first five months of 2026, Japan's frozen mackerel exports to Nigeria increased 5.5 times year-on-year, and to Egypt increased 5.4 times. These two countries combined account for approximately 26% of Japan's frozen mackerel exports, making Africa the fastest-growing emerging region for Japanese mackerel exports. Amidst a global race among exporters to expand into Africa, Fujian's frozen mackerel exports of 410 million yuan in the first eight months represent a market with increasing buyer choices.

In terms of destination countries, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are Fujian's two largest export markets to Africa, with exports reaching 940 million yuan and 630 million yuan respectively in the first eight months, representing year-on-year increases of 34% and 5.1%, accounting for over 40% of the province's total exports to Africa. Exports to Nigeria reached 260 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 110%, making it the fastest-growing major destination.

The African market has strong demand for aquatic products, but consumer preferences vary significantly across regions-East Africa prefers smaller fish, while West Africa favors larger fish. Orders from Africa have increased this year, with some companies already booked until November.