Inland factory dives into seafood market

CHONGQING — Nestled deep in the mountains of Chongqing municipality, a seafood factory buzzes with activity as workers skillfully process a batch of Northern shrimp, an exotic species they hadn't even heard of just months earlier.

"These Northern shrimp were imported from Canada and will be processed here before being exported to Japan and other countries," said Wang Lezhi, general manager of Chongqing Jiajiarong Foods.

Spanning 18,000 square meters, the factory is located in Qianjiang district, an area nestled within the Wuling Mountains. It officially began operations in December.

Before reaching the factory, the shrimp consignment undertook a 45-day journey — shipped across the ocean to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, then transported via rail to Chongqing.

Once at the facility, the shrimp undergo a deep-processing that includes cleaning, de-shelling, weighing, quick-freezing and packaging. Within a week, they are transported to Shandong province before being shipped to sushi restaurants and supermarkets across Japan.

Unlike China's coastal hubs, Qianjiang lacks the geographical advantages typically associated with foreign trade. Yet, against the odds, the district has carved out a niche in the global seafood industry.

"Policy support is the golden key that unlocked our access to the international market," Wang said.

As part of China's broader strategy to foster collaboration between its eastern and western regions, as well as its rural vitalization drive, the company has benefited from a host of policy incentives. These include preferential logistics support for imports and exports, along with an abundant local labor force, both of which have helped slash operational costs.

To boost its competitiveness, the company has also sent workers to China's coastal cities to learn advanced processing techniques. Thanks to these efforts, it expects to export over 80 metric tons of aquatic products by the end of this month, with an export value of $760,000.

Looking ahead, the company is set to expand its business operations. A new domestic sales channel for South American white shrimp is slated to launch by late this month or early May, while production of fish puree products is expected to commence in July or August, according to Wang.

Beyond that, the company has ambitious plans to utilize shrimp byproducts, such as heads and shells, in industries ranging from fish bait and biopharmaceuticals to cosmetics. This move is expected to drive growth in downstream industries and inject new momentum into rural development, he added.

Xinhua