Bord Bia and a record 15 Irish seafood exporters

James O’Donnell, Bord Bia manager for Asia, with Paul Kavanagh, Irish Ambassador to China, and Fan Xubing of Beijing Seabridge Co. Ltd., pictured at a ceremony where Irish Brown Crab was named among the top 10 imported seafood brands in China by Global Seafood, a leading Chinese seafood website.

Bord Bia and a record 15 Irish seafood companies are this week seeking out new business opportunities at the biggest seafood fair in Asia, the China Seafood and Fisheries Expo in Qingdao, China. The 2016 event features over 1,300 companies from 45 countries, as well as 22 national pavilions and is expected to attract over 29,000 visitors. The strong Irish presence follows an impressive rise in seafood trade with China in the first half of 2016; from January to August exports were worth in excess of €15m an 18% increase on the equivalent period last year with seafood exports to China and Hong Kong amounting to €28.7m. for 2015.

The Origin Green - Ireland pavilion the largest to date reflects the ambition of Bord Bia and the industry to further expand market reach while retaining and growing existing business.

Recent years have seen the broadening of exports to China from the traditional focus on pelagic species, to include premium shellfish, such as brown crab, razors and oysters. This year Irish brown crab has been named among the top 10 most recognizable foreign seafood brands in China. Irish shellfish occupies a premium position in China, As of June 2016, there had been an 88% increase in shellfish exports to China have increased in value by 132%; the environmental credentials of Irish shellfish, reflected in the Origin Green sustainability programme responds to a key concern of Chinese consumers, who value Ireland’s safe and clean production systems.

According to Bord Bia's Director of Asian Markets James O’Donnell: “As incomes grow and urbanization continues in China, a rapidly growing middle class demands ever-greater quantities of imported seafood – per capita seafood consumption has risen from 10kg in 1990 to 35kg in 2015. The next two decades will see China transform into a seafood consumer in line with middle class income growth. Imports of finfish and shellfish continue to increase as China’s appetite grows while marine resources are being depleted. 

Ireland is well-positioned to meet this demand, and Bord Bia works consistently to assist the growth of this trade: each year we meet with over 50 seafood importers, and promote seafood at consumer level working with online suppliers.  2016 has also seen the launch of “East Meets West”, a collaboration with food bloggers and 5-star chefs to promote the preparation of Irish seafood to Chinese tastes”.

Participating Companies

Atlantic Dawn

Roshine Rd
Killybegs
Co Donegal
info@atlantic-dawn.com
Tel: 074 9931644 Fax: 074 49931646

Connemara Seafoods

Seafood House
Kilmeena Westport
Co Mayo
ammulloy@connemaraseafoods.com
Tel: 098 41000 Fax: 098 416666

Errigal Bay

Meenaneary, Carrick
Donegal
Margaret.daly@errigalbay.com
Tel: 353 87 996 9400

Gallagher Bros (Fish Merchants) Ltd

Killybegs
Co Donegal
anne@gallagherbros.ie
Tel: 074 97 31004 Fax: 074 97 31309

Jade Ireland Seafood

Sofrimar
Kilmore Quay.
Wexford
Billy.carr@carrshellfish.com
Tel: 058 55003 Fax:

Killybegs Seafoods Ltd

Conlin Road
Killybegs
Co Donegal
jmg@killybegsseafoods.com
Tel: 074 9731028 Fax: 074 973159

Norfish Ltd

Killybegs
Co Donegal
info@norfishltd.com
Tel: 074 97 31146

O Cathain Iasc Teo

The Quay
Dingle
Co Kerry
2cathainiasc@eircom.net
Tel: 066 9151322 Fax: 066 9151746

Premier Fish Products

Kiillybegs
Co Donegal
info@premierfish.ie
Tel: 074 9741556 Fax: 074 9741564

Rockabill Shellfish Ltd

Stephenstown Ind Est
Balbriggan
Co Dublin
aprice@rockabill.ie
Tel: 01 8417874 Fax: 01 8417876

Sean Ward Fish Exports

Roshine Road
Killybegs
Co Donegal
info@wardfish.com
Tel: 074 9731613 Fax: 074 9731631

Wild Atlantic Shellfish Ltd

Old Farm Building
Lissadell
Sligo
wildatlanticshellfish@gmail.com
Tel: 087 4182185