Donegal seafood companies and Bord Bia at Asia’s largest seafood expo in China

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley T.D., joined Bord Bia in Qingdao, China, to attend Asia’s largest seafood expo.

Minister Dooley is leading an agri-food trade mission to China this week to strengthen commercial and government-to-government relationships across Ireland’s main export sectors, including seafood, meat and dairy.

As part of the trade mission, Bord Bia hosted three Donegal seafood companies - Killybegs Seafoods, Errigal Bay and Atlantic Dawn Group - along with six other Irish seafood companies at the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo 2025, which ran at the Hongdao International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Expo, recognised as Asia’s premier seafood trade event, is expected to attract around 50,000 professional visitors from over 130 countries.

Minister Dooley with Atlantic Dawn Group at China Seafood Tradeshow

Minister of State Timmy Dooley commented: “China represents one of the most important growth markets for Irish seafood, particularly for our premium shellfish and pelagic species. This week’s trade mission and participation at the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo provide valuable platforms to showcase Ireland’s seafood offering, build commercial partnerships, and reinforce Ireland’s strong reputation as a supplier of high-quality food products.

"I’m 10,000 kilometres from home and proud to be here flying the flag with companies from Killybegs to Castletownbere — supporting Irish businesses as they grow and compete on the international stage.”

Ahead of the Expo, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine co-hosted a seafood trade reception in Qingdao, bringing together Irish exporters with key Chinese seafood importers, distributors, and industry partners. The event aimed to deepen business relationships and identify new trade opportunities for Irish seafood in the Chinese market.

Speaking in Qingdao, Bord Bia’s recently appointed China Manager, Sinéad Kennedy, said: “Irish seafood enjoys an excellent reputation internationally. Chinese consumers are seeking premium imported seafood, and Ireland’s reputation for safety, traceability, and high-quality produce positions our exporters strongly. The number of Irish seafood exporters supplying the Chinese market is growing year on year, which is very promising for the industry.”

Errigal Bay at China Seafood Tradeshow

China continues to be a priority market for Irish seafood, with increasing demand for premium species across both e-commerce and foodservice sectors. Traditionally, the Chinese market has been important for the export of Irish pelagic fish, but in recent years, significant efforts have been made to develop opportunities for premium shellfish such as crab and langoustine.

“Chinese consumers can order online and have fresh Irish seafood delivered to their doors within 30 minutes, which is remarkable,” Ms Kennedy added.

In 2024, Ireland exported approximately 157,000 tonnes of seafood to more than 70 markets worldwide. Total exports were valued at almost €600 million, representing an increase of 9% on 2023.