China's aquatic product export volume valued at 10.6 billion US dollars in 2008, making it the biggest sources, or 26.2 percent of the country's total farm produce exports, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) statistics.

China exported 2.97 million tonnes of aquatic products last year, a year-on-year drop of 3.2 percent, but the export value was 8.9 percent higher than 2007, due to rising prices, the MOA said Saturday.

The total import and export volume rose 4.9 percent to 6.85 million tonnes, worth 16.02 billion US dollars, up 10.7 percent from a year earlier.

Influenced by the United States import ban on four Chinese aquatic products in 2007, fearing it contained carcinogen and other harmful substances, and "dumpling poisoning" case in Japan in early 2008, China's aquatic products export faced difficulties for some time.

The situation began to turn around since last March thanks to efforts from various sides, the ministry said.

Japan remained China's biggest overseas market, although the export value was down 5.8 percent from a year ago, according to the ministry.

MOA official noted the aquatic product export would face severe challenges in 2009 as the global financial crisis deepened.

He said the ministry would take measures to secure and expand market to ensure a stable export in 2009.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2009)