Fuzhou’s Abalone Rises, Expanding Its Global Presence
Abalone Processing Workshop.
Spring abalone from Fuzhou is now hitting the market. In Lianjiang, known as the “Home of Abalone in China,” abalone companies process over 40 tons of live abalone daily, with their products exported to more than 20 countries and regions worldwide.
Recently, the reporter visited Fuzhou Rixing Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as “Rixing Aquatic Food”), where abalone products undergo processes such as cleaning, blanching, cooling, and quick-freezing to preserve their freshness, before being packaged and shipped to locations across China and around the world.
“Our abalone is mainly sourced from farmers in regions such as Huangqi, Ankai, and Xiagong. The abalone has excellent meat quality and a high yield rate,” said Jiang Xinhui, General Manager of Rixing Aquatic Food. As spring abalone floods the market, the peak season for abalone processing and sales is in full swing. To keep up with demand, the company is increasing its abalone procurement and running two live abalone processing lines each day, with a capacity to handle over 40 tons of live abalone per day. The spring abalone procurement and processing are expected to continue for the next four months.
He explained that the company employs a -196°C ultra-low temperature liquid nitrogen freezing technology, which rapidly coats the abalone in ice and freezes it almost instantly. This ensures that from cleaning to packaging, the process takes only about 30 minutes, preserving the abalone’s nutrients and flavor to the maximum. Processed abalone has a longer shelf life and is more convenient to store and transport than live abalone, which has made it a popular choice among many buyers. “I came from Guangdong and placed an order for 200 tons of frozen abalone in a single day. The quality of the abalone from Lianjiang is outstanding, and the processed frozen abalone preserves the original shape and delicate texture of the live abalone, making it ideal for further processing,” said Mr. Xu, a buyer.
To further increase the added value of abalone and expand its industry chain, Rixing Aquatic Food has developed a variety of products beyond frozen abalone, including Abalone Noodle, Braised Abalone, and Quinoa Abalone Porridge. The company also extracts high-value marine bioactive peptides and polysaccharides from abalone to produce a range of health foods, such as abalone peptide powder and beverages, meeting the diverse needs of consumers in various contexts. In March alone, Rixing Aquatic Food’s abalone products generated sales of 32 million yuan.
“Currently, our products are exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including Japan, Canada, and Chile,” said Jiang Xinhui. As China’s first large-scale abalone bio-product processing enterprise, the company will stay committed to technological innovation, deepen its collaboration with research institutions, and further explore advanced abalone processing techniques. It aims to develop products like abalone peptide tablets, soft capsules, and more, while expanding into emerging export markets and increasing the global reach of Lianjiang abalone. (Fuzhou Evening News Reporter: Zheng Ruiyang; Correspondent: Lian Rongmei, Text/Photo)