FOREIGN OFFICES

Currently, Jana Brands is pioneering new frontiers in the Peoples Republic of China. From its offices in Beijing and Dalian, Jana Brands buys and sells millions of pounds of frozen seafood in China annually. For inquiries regarding Meats and Seafood in China, please contact Michael Zhang, in our Dalian office. With 1.2 billion people to feed and a low cost labor force, the People's Republic of China represents a unique opportunity for both importing and exporting. Jana Brands welcomes inquiries from food companies interested in doing business in the People's Republic of China.

Importing Fish Product

Demand for seafood far exceeds what U.S. commercial fishermen and fish farmers can produce. This shortfall in domestic supply varies widely by product, but is most severe for items such as shrimp, tuna, and the fish blocks that are used to make fish sticks. To make up this shortfall, more than half the seafood consumed by Americans is imported. The seafood marketplace is global, and U.S. importers must compete for products with buyers in Japan, Europe and other major markets. This competition is growing more intense each year as the global population continues to expand and standards of living in major market nations improve. Approximately 1,000 U.S. firms are in the business of importing fish and shellfish. U.S. imports of edible fishery products in 2001 amounted to 4.1 billion pounds, at a value of $9.9 billion. Top imports included shrimp and tuna. U.S. seafood importers obtain products from more than 130 nations. Major sources include Canada, Thailand, China, Ecuador, Chile and Mexico. Although a large proportion of imports are from ocean harvests, an increasing percentage is produced through aquaculture, particularly in developing nations.