Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached $153 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $121.93 million for the same period in 2024, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
China Economic Net (CEN) reported that frozen fish led the growth with exports worth $40.10 million, up from $30.19 million last year, totaling 21.83 million kilograms in volume in 2025. Exports of fresh or chilled crabs reached $25.68 million, totaling 3.53 million kilograms, up from $22.65 million for the same period of 2024.
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Similarly, exports of frozen cuttlefish rose to $20.29 million, or 8.04 million kilograms, from $19.83 million last year. Notably, frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling or sprats recorded remarkable growth, climbing to $11.24 million, totaling 18.39 million kilograms compared to just over $3 million a year earlier.
This steady growth reflects deepening agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as well as Pakistan’s expanded access to the Chinese market through improved cold chain logistics and certification systems, CEN said.
CEN reported that Pakistan has already overtaken Russia and Indonesia in the seafood category, which exported seafood worth $8.39 million and $1.33 million, respectively. The authorization of the “green channel” for frozen products and seafood was crucial to maintaining product quality and value, CEN said.
Learn more: Should economic ties between Pakistan and China be refined?
Relations between Pakistan and China cover security, defence, economic and diplomatic aspects, and are based on strategic, geopolitical and shared values. So far, Pakistan and China have concluded the Trade Barter Agreement of 1963, the Machinery and Technical Support Agreement of 1966, the Trade Protocol of 1975, the China-Pakistan Border Trade Agreement of 1985 and the Saindak Mining Project Technical and Financial Assistance Agreement of 1984.
In 1989, they signed an agreement to protect bilateral investments. This paved the way for Chinese companies like Huawei, Zong and Haier to enter Pakistan. The next major development was the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a transformative economic initiative.
