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Egypt is the leading aquaculture producer in Africa, producing approximately two MMT of fish annually. Aquaculture accounts for roughly 80 percent of Egypt’s fish production, primarily via private farms.

In 2023, Hong Kong was the 17th-largest market for U.S. agricultural products globally. That same year, the United States exported $1.5 billion of agricultural products and was the third-largest supplier of consumer-oriented food products to Hong Kong after China and Australia.

On June 27, 2024, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry signed Decree No. 361/2024. The Decree extended the shelf-life validity period for imported frozen beef liver from seven to twelve months and for frozen fish from six to ten months. The decree is valid for six months, as of July 1, 2024, and expires on December 31, 2024.

In 2021, U.S. seafood exports to Hong Kong recovered 31 percent year-on-year to $180 million, and taking over a significant share in niche market segments such as lobsters, eels, oysters, and other frozen mollusks products. Hong Kong has a vast seafood market with an import value of $4 billion in 2021, recovering 20 percent despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Egyptian aquaculture has witnessed a spectacular and rapid development over the past seven years. This increase is such that the country is now number one in Africa, number six worldwide in aquaculture production, and number three in tilapia production globally, becoming an important contributor to Egypt’s food security and economy.

Effective November 12, 2021, ready-to-eat oysters harvested from Samish Bay in Washington State are once again eligible for export to Hong Kong following a ban imposed on July 2021.

Hong Kong authorities reported a detection of COVID-19 virus on imported frozen cuttlefish from Malaysia. Detections were identified on the slice surface and its inner packaging during precautionary testing at the point of entry.

On October 12, 2021, the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Morocco completed a sanitary certificate for exports of live U.S. aquatic animals.

On December 30, 2020, Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI) signed Decree No. 653/2020.

On April 11, 2020, Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) issued Decree No. 209/2020.

Hong Kong does not have any certification changes for food imports in 2019.

The report lists and describes certificates that should accompany food and agricultural products to Israel.