URUMQI: Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has received its first shipment of fresh seafood imports from Pakistan in two years, signaling the reopening of its designated inspection site for inbound aquatic products.
The 1,292-kilogram consignment—including black pomfret, prawns, hairtail, and grouper—arrived on China Southern Airlines flight CZ6008 from Islamabad. The shipment follows two months of coordination among importers, customs, and airport authorities.
Previously, seafood sold in Xinjiang was mainly transported from China’s coastal regions, adding time and cost. Direct air shipments now shorten transit times, helping preserve freshness and reduce expenses for importers.
Customs officials at Tianshan Airport facilitated rapid clearance by coordinating with stakeholders in advance, streamlining inspections, and ensuring compliance at all checkpoints.
Pakistan’s deep-sea fisheries offer high-quality seafood that is increasingly popular with Chinese consumers. The reopening of Urumqi’s cold chain infrastructure marks a step forward in regional trade connectivity.
Xinjiang Airport Group plans to expand its capabilities by applying for official designation to import edible aquatic animals.
Leveraging the airport’s extensive network across Asia, Europe, and Africa, it aims to bring fresh global products—such as cherries, lobsters, and salmon—directly to local consumers’ tables, according to the group.
Earlier, Hunchun, a small Chinese border city near Russia, has become a vital hub for importing Russian king crabs, bringing in 12,000 metric tons of the crustaceans worth 3.31 billion yuan ($463 million) last year, according to government statistics.
Although not a coastal city, Hunchun in Jilin province benefits from its proximity to Russia’s ice-free ports, sitting 42 kilometers from Posyet Port and 71 km from Zarubino Port, both rich in seafood resources, said Sun Jufeng, director of the administration service center of Hunchun Port. –Agencies
