Shanghai customs said on Tuesday that imports of aquatic products for the January-April period increased 34.7 percent year-on-year to 34,000 tons. The total import value was 2.48 billion yuan ($379 million), up 36.4 percent, Shanghai customs said in a statement.

The customs attributed the rise to vigorous demand from Chinese buyers and lower import taxes. Most of the products came from Southeast Asia, Chile, New Zealand and South Korea.

The customs said the high-end seafood market in China is dominated by overseas fishing companies.