Taicang port has been accredited as a designated port for imported seafood by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine recently, Taicang Daily reported.

It is the first port in Suzhou, and the second in Jiangsu province to receive such a certification, after rounds of on-spot examinations in July 2016.

Taicang port is an important bulk cargo distribution center in East China due to its favorable location on the south bank of the Yangtze River estuary.

It began to import seafood in 2015, shipping in 10.4 tons of raw scallops from Japan. In 2016, the Japan Shimonoseki Ferry ceased its Qingdao route, making Taicang port the only liner express route between China and Japan. It takes a maximum of four days for a single cargo ship to make the crossing, bringing huge development opportunities for Taicang.

In the first half of 2016, Taicang imported 16.1 tons of crabs from Japan, exceeding the total for the same period in 2015.

Taicang port is also home to a fleet of live fish carriers, allowing for the large scale transport of fresh seafood.

Taicang is expected to be a key port for seafood in East China. Many importers believe Taicang port has huge market potential, and are confident of building up their businesses in the area.