Following China's Aquatic Market Trends

The industry is forecast to encounter difficulties due to the ensuing financial crisis, says analysts at Himfr.com. This will also affect China's domestic economy which has already been troubled by natural disasters in the last year.

However, with rising food prices such as those already reflected on agricultural products, aquatic products prices are likely to remain high and are expected to remain stable in 2009, with seasonal fluctuations for individual species. External influences based on export trends will play a lesser role in prices. Demand is also being driven by the rapid development of the aquatic processing industry.

However, under the international financial crisis, small lobsters, tilapia, catfish and other export species may have been particularly affected due to a fall in exports, which drags down prices in the domestic market. However, Himfr predicts the falling trend will not last and that the fall would only be minimal.

Himfr's analyst forecasts that in 2009, the prices of aquatic products will remain stable, affected only by seasonal factors such as holidays and the impact of production and consumption. In the long run, prices for aquatic products will keep rising.