Due to the territory’s central location, free port status and position as a regional purchasing and distribution centre, Hong Kong serves as an important re-export hub for seafood products in Asia.
Hong Kong (PRWEB) June 03, 2014
Diversified Communications, organizers of the world’s largest seafood trade events, today announced that Seafood Expo Asia show is set to return to Hong Kong on September 2-4, 2014. Formerly known as the Asian Seafood Exposition, the exhibition scheduled to take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, will provide buyers and suppliers of seafood with a platform to network and explore new business opportunities in markets internationally and throughout Asia.
Now in its fifth year, Seafood Expo Asia is one of the most influential trade events for the seafood community with the previous edition attracting more than 7,500 seafood professionals from 75 countries. In 2013, over 170 suppliers exhibited their live, fresh, frozen and packaged seafood products. Visitors represent a mix of industries including but not limited to importers, exporters, distributors, chefs, and buyers from large foodservice and retail establishments.
Commenting on the significance of the territory to the seafood industry, Ms. Mary Larkin, Group Vice President of Seafood Expositions for Diversified Communications remarks that the decision to once again host Seafood Expo Asia in Hong Kong is a reflection of the importance of the enclave as a major seafood trade centre. “Hong Kong is a primary trading hub where buyers make purchasing decisions for millions of dollars worth of seafood products that are shipped to China and other parts of the world.”
Ms. Larkin expresses that Hong Kong is the easiest market to enter in the region given its favorable regulatory environment, business framework and communications infrastructure. “Due to the territory’s central location, free port status and position as a regional purchasing and distribution centre, Hong Kong serves as an important re-export hub for seafood products in Asia.”
According to Ms. Larkin, Hong Kong today remains one of the world’s largest per capita consumers of seafood. Figures reported by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service show that Hong Kong’s market for seafood is valued at approximately USD 2.68 billion, whilst research from the Hong Kong Tourism Board indicates that 30-40% of all seafood imported into Hong Kong is re-exported to other countries.
Data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations also reveals that more than 500,000 tonnes of seafood is consumed in Hong Kong annually averaging 71.6 kg per person, 3.9 times higher than the global average. Imports make up 95% of the value of all aquatic products in the territory where culturally the population continues to show a strong preference towards fresh fish and seafood. Translated this means that 75% of local requirements for seafood are purchased as fresh or chilled products.
“Equally significant is Hong Kong’s status as a gateway for trade and an ideal entry point to mainland China,” states Ms. Larkin. “With middle class incomes on the rise, China’s appetite for seafood is rapidly shifting and increasing as consumers become more conscious of quality and taste. Many exhibitors at Seafood Expo Asia are therefore companies from across the globe wishing to cater to a Chinese market where consumption is expected to climb from the current 12kg per person to 36kg by 2020.”
Although a wide variety of products will be on display, Ms. Larkin notes that due to growing demand in China for premium seafood, there will be a particular emphasis on premium species such as lobster, crab, abalone, scallops, oysters, sea urchin, mussels and caviar.
“We are very excited to be exhibiting again at this year’s Seafood Expo Asia,” says Mr. Mike Scott, President and CEO of Maniilaq Services LLC whose company represents Arctic Circle Wild Salmon. “As a result of exhibiting at the 2013 exposition, we met many new potential clients and were even able to secure a deal with one of the region’s leading hoteliers.”
Many hotels and restaurants across the region offer premium seafood as part of their menus and it is anticipated that these products will continue to be popular. To address the needs of the hospitality sector, this year’s expo will feature a number of dedicated events, educational seafood classes and tailored networking forums specially designed for influential chefs from throughout Asia.
Terri Tsang, Show Director of Seafood Expo Asia, asserts that attendees visit the exposition with intent to purchase. “In a survey conducted amongst visitors of the 2013 exposition, 83% express intent to purchase as a direct result of attending.”
The exposition takes place alongside Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong and gives Seafood Expo Asia instant face-to-face access to more than 14,000 high volume catering, restaurants, supermarkets, importers, distributors and wholesalers from Asia-Pacific all in one location.
Diversified Communications’ SeaFood Business magazine and sister website SeafoodSource.com are the official media for this year’s Seafood Expo Asia. As global leaders in seafood industry news and information, SeaFood Business and SeafoodSource.com will extensively cover the event before, during and after the show.
For qualified seafood professionals, Seafood Expo Asia is free to attend by visiting http://www.seafoodexpo.com/asia/reg. Alternatively, please visit http://www.seafoodexpo.com/asia for details.
About Seafood Expo Asia
Formerly called the Asian Seafood Exposition, Seafood Expo Asia is a trade event where buyers and suppliers of seafood from around the world come together to network and conduct business in the lucrative Hong Kong and Asia Pacific markets. The event’s fifth edition is scheduled to take place from September 2-4, 2014 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, Hong Kong. SeaFood Business magazine and SeafoodSource.com are the exposition’s official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified Communications and is co-located with Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong. http://www.seafoodexpo.com/asia.
About Diversified Communications
Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified Communications provides information and market access through face-to-face events, publications, and eMedia. Diversified Communications serves several industries, including seafood, food service, natural and organic, commercial marine, healthcare, and business management. The company's global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia, Seafood Expo Southern Europe, SeaFood Business magazine, and SeafoodSource.com. The company operates divisions in Australia, Hong Kong, India, the UK, and Canada. http://www.divcom.com