China Eel Export Data Analysis Report, January 2026

Data source: General Administration of Customs of China

Statistical period: January 2026 Comparison baseline: December 2025 (month-on-month), January 2025 (year-on-year)

Average price calculation: Average unit price (USD/tonne) = Export value ÷ Export volume

I. Overview of Core Export Data

In January 2026, China's total eel exports were 5,197.03 tonnes (0.51 million tonnes), total export value was USD 73.7086 million, and the overall average unit price was USD 14,182.93/tonne.

Month-on-month (December 2025)

• Export volume: increased by 77.73 tonnes, up 1.51%
• Export value: increased by USD 1.0257 million, up 1.41%
• Average unit price: basically flat month-on-month

Year-on-year (January 2025)

• Export volume: decreased by 754.10 tonnes, down 12.67%
• Export value: decreased by USD 24.0935 million, down 24.63%
• Average unit price: fell noticeably year-on-year

II. Monthly Export Trend, 2025–2026

Month

Export volume (tonnes)

Export value (USD 10,000)

Average unit price (USD/tonne)

2026-01

5,197.03

7,370.86

14,182.93

2025-12

5,119.29

7,268.28

14,198.00

2025-11

4,644.78

6,621.25

14,255.00

2025-10

4,580.12

6,621.07

14,456.00

2025-09

4,152.23

6,035.53

14,535.00

2025-08

4,961.56

7,493.60

15,103.00

2025-07

6,476.28

10,359.84

16,000.00

2025-06

5,830.58

9,450.50

16,208.00

2025-05

7,171.49

11,401.45

15,898.00

2025-04

5,713.96

9,278.86

16,240.00

2025-03

6,232.41

10,159.53

16,300.00

2025-02

3,525.06

5,973.03

16,944.00

2025-01

5,951.13

9,780.21

16,434.00

III. Product Structure and Average Price

Exports are dominated by prepared or preserved eel, which accounts for more than 80%, while live eel and frozen eel account for relatively small shares.

Product form

Export volume (tonnes)

Export value (USD 10,000)

Share

Average unit price (USD/tonne)

Prepared or preserved eel (Anguilla spp.), whole or in pieces

4,326.66

6,255.30

83.25%

14,457.60

Other live eel (excluding fry)

744.06

973.73

14.32%

13,086.70

Frozen eel

101.19

119.74

1.95%

11,833.20

Fresh or chilled eel

25.10

22.08

0.48%

8,796.80

IV. Export Destinations (TOP10)

Japan is the largest market, accounting for more than 50%; the United States and Taiwan, China rank second and third.

Trading partner

Export volume (tonnes)

Export value (USD 10,000)

Share

Japan

2,614.37

4,010.86

50.31%

United States

386.26

449.40

7.43%

Taiwan, China

360.73

509.78

6.94%

Russia

324.39

379.70

6.24%

South Korea

289.71

360.68

5.57%

Hong Kong, China

269.08

379.40

5.18%

Vietnam

166.61

202.17

3.21%

Ukraine

150.88

170.04

2.90%

Malaysia

83.07

138.89

1.60%

Netherlands

79.00

108.68

1.52%

V. Distribution of Export Enterprise Locations

Fujian is the absolute core exporting province, followed by Guangdong and Zhejiang.

Enterprise location

Export volume (tonnes)

Export value (USD)

Share

Fujian Province

2,837.60

39,345,129

54.60%

Guangdong Province

930.61

14,599,401

17.91%

Zhejiang Province

409.30

5,521,922

7.88%

Shandong Province

404.85

6,792,199

7.79%

Jiangxi Province

337.41

3,942,689

6.49%

VI. Structure of Trade Modes (January 2025 reference)

Dominated by general trade, which accounts for nearly 90%.

Trade mode

Export volume (tonnes)

Export value (USD 10,000)

Share

General trade

4,609.46

6,599.18

88.69%

Logistics goods from special customs supervision areas

436.73

534.55

8.40%

Processing trade with imported materials

123.18

205.74

2.37%

Small-scale border trade

27.30

30.77

0.53%

VII. Core Conclusions

• Slight month-on-month increase, year-on-year decline: In January, eel export volume and value rose slightly month-on-month, but both posted double-digit declines year-on-year, with export scale contracting compared with the same period last year.
• Highly concentrated product structure: Processed and seasoned eel (prepared or preserved) accounts for more than 83% and is the core export category; live eel and frozen eel account for relatively low shares.
• High market dependence on Japan: Exports to Japan account for more than 50% of volume, making it the most important overseas market for Chinese eel, with high concentration.
• Concentrated export regions: Fujian Province accounts for more than 54% of export volume and is the country's largest eel-exporting province, with an obvious industrial cluster effect.
• Trade mode dominated by general trade: This reflects that eel exports are mainly direct sales abroad for end consumption.