Helping you import competitive Frozen Golden Pomfret/Pompano
Golden Pomfret Materials Price Trend
Updated on 10th October 2025: Global Golden Pomfret raw material prices have remained stable with a slight upward trend in 2025, driven by strong demand from the EU and North American ready-to-eat seafood markets. Chinese coastal farms see an average price increase of 3-5% compared to 2024, while Vietnamese and Indonesian supplies maintain competitive pricing due to lower labor costs.
All About Golden Pomfret
1. Background
Golden Pomfret, scientifically named Trachinotus blochii (belonging to the Carangidae family), is a high-value marine fish widely recognized for its tender flesh, mild flavor, and high nutritional value. It is naturally distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean (from the east coast of Africa to Japan, Australia, and the South China Sea).
Traditionally, Golden Pomfret was mainly caught in the wild, but due to overfishing and growing market demand, large-scale aquaculture began in the 1990s. China took the lead in developing artificial propagation technology in 1998, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia, making aquaculture the main source of global Golden Pomfret supply (accounting for over 90% of total production by 2020).
2. Main Producer Countries
According to FAO Fishery Statistics 2023, the top global Golden Pomfret producers are:
- China: The world’s largest producer, with an annual output of ~600,000 tonnes (accounting for 55% of global production), mainly from Guangdong (40%), Hainan (25%), and Fujian (20%) provinces.
- Vietnam: Annual output of ~250,000 tonnes (23% of global production), concentrated in the Mekong Delta coastal areas (e.g., Kien Giang, Bac Lieu).
- Indonesia: Annual output of ~180,000 tonnes (17% of global production), primarily from Sumatra and Java coastal farms.
- Other producers: Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with a combined annual output of ~50,000 tonnes (5% of global production), mainly supplying the ASEAN domestic market.
3. Habitat and Biology
- Distribution: Naturally inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons with water depths of 5-30 meters, preferring water temperatures of 22-30°C and salinity of 10-35‰. It can adapt to slightly brackish water but is sensitive to low temperatures (lethal at temperatures below 14°C for more than 48 hours).
- Morphological Features: A deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a bright golden-yellow body (fading slightly after freezing), a small mouth, and sharp scales. Adult fish can reach a maximum length of 70cm and weight of 5kg, with commercial-sized individuals typically 25-35cm long and 0.5-1.2kg in weight.
- Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on zooplankton, small fish, shrimp, and algae in the wild. In aquaculture, it accepts compound feeds with a protein content of 40-45% (mainly fish meal, soybean meal, and shrimp meal).
- Reproductive Characteristics: Sexual maturity is reached at 1-2 years of age (weight >0.8kg for females). Wild broodstock spawns once a year during the warm season (May-July), while farmed broodstock can spawn 2-3 times annually under artificial induction. A mature female can lay 200,000-500,000 eggs per spawn.
4. Scientific and Commercial Names
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Trachinotus blochii (Bloch, 1793) |
| Synonyms | Trachinotus carolinus (misclassified in early studies), Caranx blochii |
| Common English Names | Golden Pomfret, Golden Pompano, Snub-nose Pompano |
| Regional Common Names | – China: 金鲳鱼 (Jīn Chāng Yú) – Vietnam: Cá Chim Vàng – Indonesia: Ikan Kakap Putih Emas – Thailand: Pla Krai Thong |
5. Aquaculture Development History
- 1990s: Wild-caught Golden Pomfret dominates the market, but overfishing leads to a decline in wild stocks.
- 1998: China’s South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute successfully develops artificial propagation technology for Golden Pomfret, laying the foundation for large-scale aquaculture.
- 2005-2010: Vietnam and Indonesia introduce Chinese breeding technology, establishing coastal cage and pond farming systems.
- 2015-present: Global Golden Pomfret aquaculture shifts toward intensive, standardized production. China promotes “deep-sea cage farming” to improve water quality and product safety; Vietnam and Indonesia adopt GlobalGAP and BAP certifications to enter high-end export markets.
6. Core Cultivation Regions
- China:
- Guangdong: Zhanjiang, Yangjiang (deep-sea cage farming, annual output ~240,000 tonnes)
- Hainan: Sanya, Wenchang (pond and nearshore cage farming, annual output ~150,000 tonnes)
- Fujian: Xiamen, Zhangzhou (factory recirculating aquaculture systems, annual output ~120,000 tonnes)
- Vietnam: Kien Giang, Bac Lieu (Mekong Delta coastal cages, leveraging abundant plankton resources)
- Indonesia: Sumatra’s Riau Province, Java’s West Java Province (nearshore lagoon farming, low water pollution)
7. Nutritional Value
| Nutrient Index | 100g Edible Portion (Frozen Skinless Fillet) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 128 kcal |
| Calories from Fat | 35 kcal |
| Total Fat | 3.9g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.1g |
| Cholesterol | 65mg |
| Sodium | 45mg |
| Total Protein | 23.5g |
| Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Trace Elements | Calcium (18mg/100g), Phosphorus (190mg/100g), Selenium (24μg/100g) |
Note: Golden Pomfret is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (especially DHA and EPA, accounting for 30% of total fatty acids) and high-quality protein, making it suitable for children, the elderly, and health-conscious consumers.
8. Main Product Types
Golden Pomfret is processed into various products to meet different market demands:
- Frozen Whole Fish: Whole round head on, head off with gutted & scaled, butterfly-cut, suitable for retail and catering (e.g., steamed whole fish).
- Frozen Fillets: Skin-on/skin-off, well-trimmed, mainly exported to the EU and North America for high-end restaurants.
- IQF Portions: Individually quick-frozen, 100-250g per unit, convenient for home cooking and ready-to-eat meal kits.
- Steaks: Uniform thickness (2-3cm), bone-in/bone-free, popular in the Middle East and African markets (grilled or fried).
- Value-added Products: Breaded fillets (for fast food), smoked Golden Pomfret (for European delicatessens), and canned Golden Pomfret (for Southeast Asian convenience stores).
9. Global Market and Trade
- Export Coverage: Golden Pomfret products are exported to over 80 countries and territories across 5 continents, including:
- EU: Spain, France, Italy (main demand for frozen fillets and IQF portions)
- North America: USA, Canada (prefer whole fish, breaded fillets, and ready-to-cook portions)
- Asia: Japan, South Korea, Singapore (high demand for fresh and frozen whole fish)
- Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia (grilled steaks and whole fish)
- Africa: Nigeria, South Africa (affordable frozen whole fish)
- Trade Trends (2021-2023):
- 2021: Global trade volume reached 420,000 tonnes, with China accounting for 60% of exports (mainly to the EU and USA).
- 2022: Trade volume dropped by 8% to 386,000 tonnes due to rising shipping costs; Vietnam’s market share increased to 25% (low-cost advantage).
- 2023: Trade volume rebounded to 450,000 tonnes, driven by the recovery of the catering industry; demand for ready-to-cook Golden Pomfret products increased by 15% year-on-year.
10. Aquaculture Technology
Production Cycle
- Broodstock Rearing: Select 1-2 year-old healthy individuals (weight >1kg), inject hormones (e.g., HCG) to induce spawning.
- Egg Incubation: Collect fertilized eggs, incubate in conical tanks (water temperature 26-28°C, salinity 25-30‰), hatching in 24-36 hours.
- Larval Rearing: Transfer larvae to nursery ponds, feed with rotifers and artemia for 2-3 weeks until they grow into 3-5cm fry.
- Fingerling Cultivation: Stock fry in intermediate ponds (density 50-100 fish/m²), feed with compound feeds for 1-2 months to reach 10-15cm fingerlings.
- Grow-out: Stock fingerlings in cages/ponds (density 10-20 fish/m² for cages, 2-3 fish/m² for ponds), feed with high-protein compound feeds for 4-6 months to reach commercial size (0.5-1.2kg).
- Harvest: Catch with seines (ponds) or lift cages (cage farming), sort by size, and freeze within 2 hours to ensure freshness.
Main Cultivation Modes
| Mode | Features | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-sea Cages | Located 5-10km offshore, good water circulation, low pollution; suitable for large-scale production | 15-20kg/m³/crop |
| Nearshore Ponds | Adjacent to coastal areas, easy water exchange; suitable for small and medium-sized farms | 8-12 tonnes/ha/crop |
| Factory Recirculating Systems | Controlled water temperature and quality, year-round production; high investment but stable output | 50-80kg/m³/year |
Feed Management
- Feed Type: Mainly extruded floating pellets with 40-45% protein (fish meal 25-30%, soybean meal 15-20%, shrimp meal 5-8%).
- Feeding Frequency: 2-3 times a day (morning 8-9, afternoon 4-5, evening 7-8 in summer).
- Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): 1.2-1.5:1 for intensive cage farming, 1.8-2.0:1 for pond farming.
11. Quality Standards and Certification
National Regulations
- China: GB/T 18108-2022 《Frozen Marine Fish Products》, NY/T 2796-2015 《Technical Specifications for Golden Pomfret Aquaculture》
- Vietnam: QCVN 02-32:2019 《National Technical Standards for Marine Fish Farming》
- Indonesia: SNI 7545:2019 《Frozen Golden Pomfret – Quality Requirements》
International Certifications
- GlobalGAP: Covers environmental protection, animal welfare, and food safety; required for entry into EU retail markets.
- BAP (Best Aquaculture Practice): Certifies the entire supply chain (hatchery, farm, processing plant); popular in North American markets.
- ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council): Focuses on sustainability; certified products account for 15% of global Golden Pomfret exports.
12. Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
- Environmental Protection:
- Promote “integrated multi-trophic aquaculture” (IMTA), combining Golden Pomfret with seaweed and shellfish to absorb excess nutrients.
- Control feed waste: Use automatic feeders to adjust feeding amounts based on fish activity.
- Chemical and Antibiotic Management:
- Banned substances: Chloramphenicol, nitrofuran, and fluoroquinolones (in line with EU and FDA standards).
- Restricted antibiotics: Amoxicillin (MRL 50ppb), florfenicol (MRL 1000ppb), with mandatory withdrawal periods of 7-14 days.
- Organic Aquaculture Cases:
- China’s Hainan Wanning Organic Golden Pomfret Farm: Certified by EU Organic, uses natural plankton and organic feeds, exports to Germany and France.
- Vietnam’s Kien Giang Organic Farm: Partner with Dutch certification bodies, produces 10,000 tonnes of organic Golden Pomfret annually.
13. Processing and Quality Control
- Processing Flow: Live fish → Anesthesia → Bleeding → Gutting & Scaling → Filleting → Trimming → Bone Checking → IQF Freezing → Glazing (5-8% ice coating) → Packaging.
- Hygiene Standards: Processing plants comply with HACCP, ISO 22000, and BRCGS standards; regular inspections by third-party agencies (e.g., SGS, Intertek).
- Food Additive Control: Only use food additives approved by importing countries (e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate for water retention, within 0.5% of total weight); clearly label additives on packaging.
14. Market Advantage Comparison
Compared with other high-value marine fish (e.g., red snapper, grouper), Golden Pomfret has the following advantages:
- Taste: Tender, white flesh with no fishy odor, suitable for multiple cooking methods (steaming, grilling, frying).
- Cost: Lower aquaculture costs (fast growth, high feed conversion efficiency) than grouper; 30-50% cheaper than red snapper in the retail market.
- Nutrition: Higher protein content than tilapia, richer in DHA than pangasius.
- Supply Stability: Year-round production (no seasonal restrictions), while wild red snapper and grouper have unstable supplies.
