There appears to be much scope for new markets for Chinese tilapia producers. Israel emerged as almost as big a market as the entire EU, buying 7,700 metric tons worth $29 million (€27 million) in 2014, up 111 percent and 128 percent respectively.
Iran increased its purchases by 134 percent to 6,500 metric tons, up 128 percent in value terms on the previous year to $32 million (€29.8 million).
Aside from market diversification, Chinese tilapia exporters are keen on Iran as a market given the country operates a currency-trade with China, allowing trade settlement in the Yuan (which is largely non-convertible outside China) while tilapia players also point that Iran operates a more lax import inspection regime compared to the US where antibiotics residues have become the focus of more intense scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
While
