Pakistan Boosts Seafood Trade with China to $153 Million in 2025

Strong fisheries cooperation and trade policies propel Pakistan’s seafood export boom

Pakistan Boosts Seafood Trade with China to $153 Million in 2025


Pakistan’s seafood exports to China witnessed a significant 25% increase in the first quarter of 2025, reaching an impressive $153 million, up from $121.93 million during the same period in 2024, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

China Economic Net (CEN) highlighted that frozen fish remained the top-performing category, recording exports worth $40.10 million compared to $30.19 million last year, with a total volume of 21.83 million kilograms. Fresh or chilled crab exports also showed strong growth, reaching $25.68 million, up from $22.65 million, with a total of 3.53 million kilograms exported.

Similarly, frozen cuttlefish exports rose to $20.29 million, amounting to 8.04 million kilograms, while frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling, and sprats posted an extraordinary surge — climbing to $11.24 million from just over $3 million a year earlier.

Experts attribute this sustained growth to the strengthening of agricultural and fisheries cooperation between Pakistan and China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Enhanced cold chain logistics, streamlined certification systems, and the “green channel” clearance for ice-seafood products have further supported product quality and trade efficiency.

According to CEN, Pakistan has now overtaken major competitors such as Russia and Indonesia, whose seafood exports to China stood at $8.39 million and $1.33 million, respectively. This growth not only reflects Pakistan’s expanding market access but also underscores the success of long-standing trade agreements and strategic economic collaboration between the two countries.

The Pakistan-China partnership, rooted in decades of cooperation, continues to thrive across security, defence, economic, and diplomatic dimensions. From the Barter Trade Agreement of 1963 to the transformative China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, both nations have built a resilient framework for sustainable economic growth and mutual prosperity.