Determinants of China’s Seafood Trade Patterns

Abstract

China is the world’s largest seafood exporter, and changes in its seafood trade patterns have global impacts. In this article, China’s trade patterns are investigated using a gravity-type model. To examine whether trade patterns vary by product form and species group, 13 different models are estimated. The results indicate substantial variation in trade patterns across product categories. In particular, seafood in the live and fresh product forms are a separate group for which trade is significantly more influenced by distance and income level, while the size of the economy and region significantly affects the trade of products in other forms. Particularly notable is the lower unit value of the products shipped to Africa.