Key Findings: small exports, large imports; export unit price exceeds import
In Jan-Jun 2026, China's fresh or chilled hairtail (HS code 03028910) exported about $1,182,245, down about 16.1% YoY; export volume was about 167,028 kg, down about 2.1% YoY. Over the same period imports reached about $10,181,053, up about 16.0% YoY; import volume about 3,507,699 kg, up about 12.9% YoY. Import value is about 8.6 times export value - a typical net-import pattern. Notably, the export average unit price is about $7.08/kg, higher than the import average of $2.90/kg (about 2.4 times), reflecting a division of "import whole frozen raw material, export premium fresh-chilled product."
1. Hairtail Import & Export Data Overview
The following are monthly and cumulative export/import values (USD) and quantities (kg) for Jan-Jun 2026. YoY is computed against the same month of 2025.
1. Export monthly data (value USD / quantity kg)
| Month | Export Value 2025 | Export Value 2026 | Export Value YoY | Export Qty 2025 | Export Qty 2026 | Export Qty YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 159,608 | 303,287 | +90.02% | 20,942 | 37,253 | +77.89% |
| Feb | 211,413 | 194,239 | -8.12% | 28,052 | 23,743 | -15.36% |
| Mar | 268,168 | 274,466 | +2.35% | 35,672 | 34,454 | -3.41% |
| Apr | 229,870 | 158,004 | -31.26% | 30,040 | 25,258 | -15.92% |
| May | 259,796 | 113,637 | -56.26% | 30,710 | 20,350 | -33.73% |
| Jun | 280,683 | 138,612 | -50.62% | 25,211 | 25,970 | +3.01% |
| Jan-Jun Total | 1,409,538 | 1,182,245 | -16.13% | 170,627 | 167,028 | -2.11% |
2. Import monthly data (value USD / quantity kg)
| Month | Import Value 2025 | Import Value 2026 | Import Value YoY | Import Qty 2025 | Import Qty 2026 | Import Qty YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4,291,211 | 2,994,851 | -30.21% | 1,493,427 | 1,076,855 | -27.89% |
| Feb | 2,357,819 | 2,325,961 | -1.35% | 839,002 | 762,816 | -9.08% |
| Mar | 1,280,312 | 1,885,736 | +47.29% | 483,655 | 681,822 | +40.97% |
| Apr | 558,114 | 772,065 | +38.33% | 205,818 | 224,430 | +9.04% |
| May | 217,866 | 1,058,476 | +385.84% | 65,629 | 364,063 | +454.73% |
| Jun | 69,585 | 1,143,964 | +1543.98% | 18,222 | 397,713 | +2082.60% |
| Jan-Jun Total | 8,774,907 | 10,181,053 | +16.02% | 3,105,753 | 3,507,699 | +12.94% |
2. Import & Export Destination Markets, Jan-Jun 2026
Top 3 Export Markets
Hong Kong, China (Value $1,147,484)
Thailand (Value $11,293)
Canada (Value $8,601)
Top 3 Import Sources
Taiwan, China (Value $7,006,551)
Indonesia (Value $2,770,004)
South Korea (Value $404,498)
Top 6 Export Markets by Value
| Rank | Country/Region | Value (USD) | Qty (kg) | Unit Price (USD/kg) | Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong, China | 1,147,484 | 164,897 | $6.96 | 10 |
| 2 | Thailand | 11,293 | 916 | $12.33 | 7 |
| 3 | Canada | 8,601 | 402 | $21.40 | 6 |
| 4 | Japan | 6,314 | 143 | $44.15 | 4 |
| 5 | Malaysia | 4,653 | 470 | $9.90 | 6 |
| 6 | United States | 3,900 | 200 | $19.50 | 3 |
Top 3 Import Sources by Value
| Rank | Source | Value (USD) | Qty (kg) | Unit Price (USD/kg) | Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan, China | 7,006,551 | 2,773,750 | $2.53 | 12 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 2,770,004 | 639,386 | $4.33 | 17 |
| 3 | South Korea | 404,498 | 94,563 | $4.28 | 11 |
3. In-depth Data Interpretation
Structural Features
Imports far exceed exports - a net-import pattern
H1 import value $10,181,053 is about 8.6 times export value $1,182,245; import volume is about 21 times export volume. China is a major global hairtail consumer and processor, highly reliant on imports for raw material.
Export unit price exceeds import
Export average is about $7.08/kg, about 2.4 times the import average of $2.90/kg. The root cause: exports are mainly premium fresh-chilled hairtail to Hong Kong and Japan, while imports are mostly whole frozen raw material from Taiwan and Indonesia - not in the same value tier.
Highly concentrated and structurally split markets
Exports are 97% concentrated in Hong Kong, China; imports are 69% from Taiwan, China and 27% from Indonesia, the top two sources together about 96%. Both ends show clear single-point concentration.
Key Market Analysis
Hong Kong, China (export): 97% of export destinations
Hong Kong accounts for $1,147,484 and 164,897 kg, about 97% of total export, at $6.96/kg. Hong Kong is the main window for mainland fresh-chilled hairtail to high-end dining and retail; its channel value far exceeds local consumption.
Taiwan, China / Indonesia (import): core supply
Taiwan ($7,006,551) and Indonesia ($2,770,004) together account for about 96% of import value. Taiwan hairtail is mainly near-shore caught with stable supply; Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest raw-material source at about $4.33/kg.
Japan (export): small volume, high premium
Exports to Japan are only 143 kg, yet the unit price reaches $44.15/kg - typical sashimi-grade premium goods. Small in volume but meaningful in premium; a lever to lift export unit price.
Strong seasonal swings
Import value in 2025 ran high-then-low (Jan $4,291,211 down to Jun $69,585), while in 2026 it rebounded in May-June to $1,058,476 and $1,143,964; export months also fluctuate markedly, closely tied to fishing-ban periods and holiday supply rhythms.
4. 2026 Import & Export Trend Assessment
Favorable Factors
Import demand recovering: May-June 2026 import value rebounded to $1,058,476 and $1,143,964; terminal processing and consumption sentiment are recovering.
Clear export unit-price advantage: fresh-chilled hairtail averages $7.08/kg; the Hong Kong premium channel is stable.
Premium in Japan and other high-end markets: sashimi-grade hairtail exceeds $40/kg, a breakthrough for higher margins.
Stronger domestic fresh-chilled processing: cold-chain and sorting upgrades support high-value exports.
Unfavorable Factors
Exports broadly down: H1 export value fell about 16.1%, with volume only slightly down and price softened.
Over-reliance on Hong Kong for exports: about 97%; high concentration risk - any swing in Hong Kong demand hits the whole.
Concentrated import supply: Taiwan + Indonesia about 96%; a single supply chain is vulnerable to origin and policy shocks.
Seasonal shocks: fishing-ban periods and holidays cause large monthly swings, making production and inventory hard to manage.
Trend Outlook
Domestic processing demand supports; full-year import value likely above last year.
The Hong Kong channel is near-irreplaceable short-term; total export will swing mildly with its rhythm.
Japan and other sashimi-grade markets carry high unit prices, the main direction for export quality upgrade.
Fishing-ban and holiday factors will keep causing monthly volatility.
5. Foreign Trade Recommendations
Market Expansion
Consolidate the Hong Kong fresh-chilled channel: hold this core window (>90%% of exports); deepen ties with seafood wholesalers and high-end dining.
Develop Japan/South Korea premium: enter with sashimi-grade, deboned/ready-to-cook products for higher unit prices.
Diversify imports: beyond Indonesia, expand ASEAN sources (Vietnam, Malaysia) to reduce single dependence.
Product Strategy
Develop fresh-chilled and deep processing: deboned, seasoned, prepared formats lift per-unit value, benchmarked to Japanese sashimi grade.
Tiered pricing: layer by size and freshness so premium grades' price truly lands in margin.
Strengthen cold-chain and traceability: stable quality supports high-end market access.
Channel Optimisation
Bind the Hong Kong distribution network: long-term supply with mature wholesalers, cut middle mark-ups.
Build a stable import supply chain: medium/long-term agreements with Taiwan and Indonesian catch/processing firms to smooth seasonal gaps.
Deploy e-commerce and new retail: branded small packs for high-end consumers.
Risk Management
Guard against fishing-ban stockouts: pre-stock and safety inventory to smooth monthly swings.
Reduce Hong Kong concentration: cultivate Japan/South Korea as second export markets, diversify single-point reliance.
Watch import inspection and disease risk: strengthen source inspection and compliance to avoid return losses.
Conclusion
Fresh or chilled hairtail shows a classic "small exports, large imports" pattern: import value is about 8.6 times export value, and the export unit price exceeds import, reflecting China's international division of "import whole frozen raw material, export premium fresh-chilled product." The dual concentration - exports highly dependent on Hong Kong, imports on Taiwan and Indonesia - is the main operating risk. Recommend consolidating the Hong Kong fresh-chilled channel and seeking premiums in Japan and other high-end markets, while diversifying import sources, to meet seasonality and concentration uncertainty with a more balanced supply-demand structure.