Quanzhou Customs officers inspecting seafood products ready for export (Photo by Wu Jingfeng)

　　Quanzhou News Network, May 7 – By reporter Liu Wenyan and correspondents Guo Longjie, Wei Yuxi

　　In the bustling workshop of Xingshidai (Fujian) Food Technology Co., Ltd., workers were busy canning, sterilizing, and packaging tomato-sauced mackerel for export.

　　"We've diversified our export markets, and our products are now in high demand across several Belt and Road countries. At present, we're working on over 20 container orders, with production scheduled through the end of July," said Lin Fengyi, General Manager of the company.

　　Since completing its first export to Ghana under the guidance of Quanzhou Customs on March 14, the company has shipped 13 batches—totaling 430 tons—of tomato-sauced mackerel and sardine cans to three BRI countries: Ghana, the Dominican Republic, and Bolivia. This rapid expansion illustrates the growing global appetite for Quanzhou's seafood and highlights the aquatic processing sector as a new driver in the city's marine economy.

　　Quanzhou is a major hub for seafood production and export processing in China, home to an emerging industrial cluster of 67 certified seafood processors. With increased investment in R&D, the industry has transitioned from primary processing of wild-caught seafood to the production of higher value-added products such as frozen cooked squid rings, squid fillets, dried squid, and canned seafood. Deep-processed products now account for 32% of total output—up five percentage points from the same period last year.

　　Amid the challenging and evolving global trade landscape, Quanzhou's seafood enterprises have stepped up efforts to expand into international markets, yielding impressive results. In Q1 alone, Quanzhou Customs supervised the export of 76,200 tons of seafood—up 31.2% year-on-year—setting a new quarterly record. Key export destinations included the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, with over 90% of shipments going to BRI partner countries.

　　To further support local businesses, Quanzhou Customs has provided one-on-one guidance on import regulations, food safety standards, and compliance procedures. The agency also helped companies refine their quality management systems and optimize production processes to meet the requirements of international markets. Leveraging the "Internet + Customs" platform, authorities assisted seafood processors in securing overseas registration. In Q1, three new companies were added to the list, bringing the total to 34 firms approved for export to markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, and the European Union—clearing critical channels for outbound trade.

　　Additionally, business-friendly measures such as "green lanes" for inspections and cloud-based issuance of inspection and quarantine certificates have streamlined export procedures. These efforts have enabled immediate inspection, rapid certification, and fast-track clearance—achieving "zero-wait" customs processing and allowing companies to swiftly seize international market opportunities.