Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached $153 million in the first quarter of 2025, up from $121.93 million in 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 US$40.10 million compared to US$30.19 million last year, totaling 21.83 million kg in volume by 2025. Fresh or chilled crab exports reached US$25.68 million, totaling 3.53 million kg in the same period.
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Similarly, exports of frozen squid rose to $20.29 million, equivalent to 8.04 million kilos, up from $19.83 million last year. In particular, frozen sardines, sardinella, bristles or sprats recorded remarkable growth, rising to $11.24 million, a total of 18.39 million kilograms from just over $3 million a year earlier.
The 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 surpassed Russia and Indonesia in the seafood category, which exported seafood worth $8.39 million and $1.33 million respectively. The “green channel” approval for iced seafood products has been critical to maintaining product quality and value, CEN said.
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The Pakistan-China relationship covers security, defense, economic and diplomatic aspects, which are built on strategic, geopolitical and shared values. So far, Pakistan and China have agreed on the Barter Trade Agreement of 1963, the Machinery and Technical Assistance Agreement of 1966, the Trade Protocol of 1975, the China-Pakistan Border Trade Agreement of 1985 and the Agreement on Technical and Financial Assistance for the Saindak Mining Project of 1984.
In 1989, they signed an agreement to protect bilateral investments. This paved the way for Chinese firms like Huawei, Zong and Haier to enter Pakistan. The next major development was the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a transformative economic initiative.
