Tide of business rolls in at Zhanjiang aquatic expo

The 2017 China International Aquatic Products Exposition held in Zhanjiang from June 18 to 20 smashed records with 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) in deals sealed on the first day alone.

Zhanjiang, located on the southeastern coast of China in Guangdong province is a growing aquatic products manufacturer which is attracting the global market.

The expo, the fourth largest of its kind in the world, has become a one-stop trade exchange platform for the fisheries industry.

China International Aquatic Products Exposition 2017 is held in Zhanjiang, Guangdong from June 18 to 20. [Photo by Liu Jicheng/zhanjiang.gov.cn]

More than 200 exhibitors and 3,000 purchasers from home and abroad as well as experts and industry elites took part in the event.

A summit was held, with the United States, Malaysia, Ecuador and Thailand taking part.

The event provided a total exhibition area of more than 20,000 square meters, both indoors and outdoors, to encompass some 500 standard stalls. Making the most of what was on offer included the Vietnamese fishing industry association which organized a 73-member-group to attend composed of exporters and suppliers.

Yu Guangwen, chairman of the board at Guangdong Dongguang Food, said Zhanjiang is a good place to have access to quality marine products for his company to process and sell back overseas.

Products on display included the latest machinery, preservation and sterilization technologies, and packaging materials.

Ren Chunlei, manager of Yantai Huada Agricultural Cold Chain Logistics in Shandong province took the largest exhibition booth and was satisfied with their visits and orders.

"We see more and more visitor numbers than ever," said Ren. "We really hope Zhanjiang and Yantai can have further exchanges and cooperation."

Shrimp appetizers are prepared for visitors. [Photo/yinsha.com]

The total trade volume is estimated rise to 21 billion yuan, according to the organizers.

The event also included forums, cooking demonstrations and a "one thousand-person feast" prepared by professional seafood chefs.

The event was sponsored by China Aquatic Production Chamber of Commerce and Zhanjiang's association of aquatic products' import and export companies.

A third of all exhibition stalls have already been booked for the next year's session, with some even reserved for next three consecutive years.