After years of rapid development, Chinese sea cucumber industry has already grown into a big industry worth of several millions yuan. During the whole process, the competition inside the industry has never stopped, which lies between not only different brands but also different places of origin.
Advantages and disadvantages in three main sea cucumber places of origin in China
At present, Chinese sea cucumber industry is mainly divided into three parts. Weihai, Yantai and Qingdao in Shandong province together form the core region of sea cucumber production in northern China, which is also the paramount and most developed sea cucumber market with a most rapid growth there. Sea bottom-cultured wild sea cucumber is the main farming species here. Large-scale sea bottom culturing, fine and deep processing, steady farming region expansion and fine cost performance prompt the sea cucumber produced here to the national well-known brand.
Liaoning province, which features Dalian sea cucumber as the backbone, is the traditional sea cucumber farming base, which is also the main sea cucumber supply origin for Chinese domestic market. Facing fierce competition, consumption market here has grown mature, which is already in saturation status right now.
Southern China sea cucumber industry has grown rapidly in recent years, which already becomes one important industrial participant. Based on the advantaged temperature differences, the growth cycle is shortened and intensive farming becomes possible. What’s more, the sea cucumber production is also improved a lot via its product research and development and advantages of convenient processing and low producing cost.
Weihai secures the China sea cucumber capital tile as the market competition intensifies
In 2015, Weihai sea cucumber (stichopus japonicus) was ranked in the front of the list of China Agricultural Product Regional Public Brand Value Assessment because of its big market share. Sea cucumber fry nursing, farming, processing and selling participant had reached more than 4, 000 in the same year, which brought about more than 40, 000 job opportunities.
In 16th and 17th May, 2016, China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance sent an evaluation panel led by experts to Weihai, Shandong to carry out site inspection and inquiries regarding its sea cucumber industry. Through its sea cucumber technological support, quality guarantee system, thorough supporting polices and clear industrial development program, Weihai sea cucumber industry obtained the recognition of the panel and Shandong Weihai was successfully awarded China sea cucumber capital tile.
Steady and continuous industrial development brings 8 billion worth of annual output value
In recent years, Weihai sea cucumber gradually acquires its popularity among Chinese consumers and its brand building is also moving forward step by step. In 2011, it is ranked among the list of consumers’ favorite agricultural product regional public brand. In 2012, it is evaluated as the famous cormercial brand of Shandong province. In 2015, assessed value of Weihai sea cucumber brand was up to 5.1 billion yuan, the highest among seafood brands. In the latest list of 2016 top ten sea cucumber brands in China, Weihai sea cucumber accounts for half of that.
With the rising brand credibility of Weihai sea cucumber and rapid growth of its many branch brands, sea cucumber industry has already become an important part of economy in Weihai, whose annual output value is already more than 8 billion yuan.
