Prices of tilapia in southern China see mixed trends, with export recovery failing to mask supply pressure

This week, prices in major tilapia producing areas in southern China showed a divided trend, forming a pattern of "decline in Guangdong, increase in Guangxi, and stability in Hainan". Industry analysis points out that although the rebound in U.S. orders has driven price increases in some regions, the approaching peak listing period coupled with the shortage of fry supply means the industry still faces multiple challenges.

This week, the purchase price of 500-800 gram raw material fish in the Guangxi producing area rose to 8.6 yuan/kg, an increase of 0.3 yuan from the previous week; the price of the same specification in Guangdong slightly decreased by 0.1 yuan to 8.4 yuan/kg; and the price in Hainan remained flat at 8.2 yuan/kg. A senior executive of a processing enterprise in Hainan revealed that the increase in orders from the U.S. market has driven up raw material purchases, but Guangdong enterprises reported that local supplies are sufficient and have not followed up with price adjustments. It is worth noting that due to the prominent problem of raw material shortages in Guangxi, some processing plants were forced to increase prices for purchases.

As the southern region enters the high-temperature season, the growth rate of tilapia has accelerated, and farmers are about to concentrate on fish sales. Industry insiders said: "The current fish prices can still guarantee the income of farmers, but there has been a gap in fry supply." It is reported that fry enterprises including Guangdong Haimao, the industry leader, are facing insufficient production capacity, which may affect the subsequent farming cycle.

In the short term, the game between export demand and raw material supply will continue to dominate price trends. Processing enterprises need to balance the allocation of international orders and domestic production capacity, and the shortage of fry may further push up farming costs. The industry is calling for increased investment in fry research and development to address the challenges of long-term supply chain stability.