Hainan's tilapia export exceeds 2 billion yuan

Workers process frozen tilapia fillets in a workshop of Qinfu Industrial Co's in South China's Hainan province. [Photo by Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily]

Tilapia, one of the most consumed fish in Europe, North America, and South America, has become the top fishery export in South China's Hainan province, generating an export volume of 2.07 billion yuan ($299.8 million) over the past year.

"Hainan tilapia is of great quality and half of our products are exported to Europe," said Zhou Qinfu, president of Qinfu Industrial Co and the so-called "Tilapia King of Hainan." His company reached a sales volume of about $57.9 million in 2018.

The success of Zhou's did not come at once, but in pairs. An aquaculture chain consisting of producers and farmers has gradually taken shape since tilapia entered the province in the 1980s.

From rapid development spurred by export-oriented processes to industry upgrades centering around environmentally friendly concepts, Hainan's tilapia aquaculture is taking a turn for the better, according to Han Xuefeng, secretary-general of the Tilapia Brand Promotion Association.

To date, 22 Hainan-based aquatic processing companies have passed the ISO9001:2000 certification, HACCP certification, and export registration, making their presence felt in international markets.

For years, Hainan has been contributing almost 30 percent of China's tilapia exports. In 2018, the province boasted 32,800 hectares of tilapia farms, yielded 326,800 tons of tilapia, and exported 120,000 tons of whole fish and fillets worth $299.8 million.

By providing quality tilapia products to more than 50 countries and regions, Hainan has also managed to create more than 100,000 jobs for local residents. 

Hainan's tilapia aquaculture offers some experiences worth learning, said an authority from the provincial agriculture bureau.