Chinese e-commerce company JD.com has partnered with a technology firm to launch an aquaculture farm in the southeast province of Guangdong – a project the local government is promoting as a vertically integrated fish farm, hatchery, and processing facility that will provide JD customers with fresh fish nationwide.
The Jingdong Intelligent Fishery Industry Park aims to produce 5,000 metric tons of output in 2025 worth CNY 430 million (USD 60.2 million, EUR 55.9 million), with profitability projected at CNY 140 million (USD 19.6 million, EUR 18.2 million), according to authorities in Meizhou, the city in Guangdong where the farm is located.
Operated by Meizhou Hongxi Technology Industry Co., the CNY 500 million (USD 70 million, EUR 65 million) project will focus on mandarin fish, which is a premium species in Chinese seafood restaurants and is also popular in the e-commerce gift market, according to Meizhou Hongxi General Manager Gu Zhihong.
As one of the biggest players in China’s massive e-commerce sector, boasting a 20 percent share of the market, and the operator of one of the country’s largest logistics networks with around 1,300 warehouses across China, JD is a sought-after partner for local governments seeking to build new or modernize existing agriculture and fisheries operations.
On the flip side of the relationship, JD has stated it is keen to secure greater access to domestic and imported agricultural produce for distribution to customers, making the new farm in Guangdong a mutually beneficial collaboration...