Guolian Aquatic was China’s most profitable seafood firm in 2017, according to a data ranking of food and agricultural companies by SeafoodSource, which put the firm in 26th place in a ranking of the listed companies grouped as “agriculture, forestry, and fisheries” on China’s stock exchanges (Shanghai and Shenzhen).
Guolian scored profits of CNY 144.1 million (USD 22.7 million, EUR 18.9 million) last year. Meanwhile, the second most profitable seafood firm Shandong Oriental Ocean Sci-Tech Co., in 31st place, recorded profits of CNY 124 million (USD 19.5 million, EUR 16.3 million). That ranked it ahead of tilapia leader Baiyang Investment Co., which hit 36th on the list, with profits of CNY 113 million (USD 17.8 million, EUR 14.8 million).
Oriental Ocean has benefited from improved demand for sea cucumbers, which it cultivates, but the firm also farms salmon in on-land sites. Baiyang has moved to diversify its holdings in recent years, including forays into online education services and medicinal goods, gaining favor with investors as a result.
The top-ranked firm on the list is Guangdong Wen’s, which reported profits of CNY 6.75 billion (USD , EUR ). Wen’s sells feedstuffs, including aquafeed, but also farms pigs. The top five most profitable firms in the “agriculture, forestry, and fisheries” block are all feed producers with pork assets. However, fourth-placed Tongwei, with CNY 2.01 billion (USD 317 million, EUR 264 million) in profits has invested considerably in tilapia production.
The sixth-placed firm, Guangdong Haid Group Co., recorded profits of CNY 1.20 billion (USD 189 million, EUR 157 million) and is a key supplier of feed to the aquaculture sector and also produces pigs and feed for pig farmers.
