# Nantong Guanqun Aquatic Foods Debuts at Riyadh International Food Exhibition in Saudi Arabia, Setting Sights on a Thrilling Showcase Through 2025

Saudi Riyadh International Food Exhibition The Riyadh International Food Exhibition (Foodex Saudi) will be held from September 21 to 24, 2025, at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center This event is the largest food and beverage industry gathering in the Saudi region. As one of the most prominent professional food exhibitions in the Middle East, this year’s show has attracted numerous global companies to participate. At this premier food industry event, Nantong Guanqun Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. from Rudong, Jiangsu Province, China, showcased its core products, highlighting the innovative strength of China’s marine food industry on the global market.

## I. 25 Years of Deep Expertise in Marine Food: Guanqun Aquatic's Industry Legacy

Nantong Guanqun Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. was established in 2000 and is deeply rooted in Rudong County, Nantong City, the core area of China's coastal economic belt. Leveraging Nantong City's "South Yellow Sea Blue Granary" development plan, the company has built a comprehensive industrial chain spanning from laver cultivation and processing to sales. Currently, it boasts a 6,000-mu offshore aquaculture base and a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-meter processing facility, equipped with four automated roasted seaweed production lines as well as machinery for making triangular rice balls and seasoned seaweed snacks. The company’s annual processing capacity reaches 200 million sheets of laver products.

The company's founder, Huang Haixiang, leads his team in building renowned brands such as "Guanqun" and "Jinshanwu" through a business model that emphasizes "standardized raw materials, traceable quality, and direct price control." In 2019, the company was recognized as a municipal-level leading enterprise for agricultural industrialization in Nantong City, and in 2023, it successfully obtained Level-3 certification for standardized safety production. Today, its product portfolio includes ten major series—such as ready-to-eat seaweed snacks, cut seaweed sheets, and seaweed powder—and is exported to markets across Europe, South America, North America, and beyond. Despite a 20%-30% decline in export orders in 2022 due to the global pandemic, the company has continued to expand into Belt and Road Initiative markets by actively participating in international trade fairs like the Canton Fair and the IFE UK Food Exhibition.

## II. Saudi Market: New Opportunities in a High-Growth Track

Saudi Arabia's food market is experiencing explosive growth. Data shows that per capita daily food consumption in Saudi Arabia has reached 3,130 calories, with annual imports totaling $14.2 billion. Meanwhile, the food industry is growing at an impressive annual rate of 18%. To further boost this momentum, the government has launched an $800 million Food Security Initiative, which is actively driving the development of food processing, packaging, and cold-chain logistics industries. Organizers of the Saudi Food Exhibition revealed that this year’s event features a dedicated "Middle East Foodservice Solutions Zone," attracting exhibitors from over 50 countries worldwide—among them, Chinese companies account for 15% of the total.

For Guanqun Aquatic Products, the Saudi market holds multiple strategic values. First, Saudi Arabia boasts a young population accounting for over 60%, driving strong demand for healthy snacks—and creating significant market potential for convenient food items like ready-to-eat seaweed snacks. Second, Saudi Arabia's foodservice industry is expanding at an annual growth rate of 12%, with rising demand from upscale hotels and fast-food chains for customized seaweed products. Finally, leveraging Saudi Arabia as a re-export hub allows access to the broader markets of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, enabling the company to establish a robust regional sales network.

## III. Policy Support and Industry Collaboration: Building a New Ecosystem for Global Expansion

Guangqun Aquatic's internationalization process has received support from multiple parties. The Nantong Municipal Bureau of Commerce has provided a 50% subsidy toward companies' exhibition expenses through its special "Stabilizing Foreign Trade Scale and Optimizing Structure" fund. Meanwhile, Rudong Customs has established the "Specialty Agri-Food Products Export Excellence Studio," offering real-time updates on technical regulations in countries such as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has included the company in the "Su Goods Go Global" initiative, organizing cross-border e-commerce training sessions and facilitating connections with overseas warehouses.

Industry data shows that in 2024, China's food exports to Saudi Arabia reached US$1.23 billion, with aquatic products accounting for 8.7% of the total. As the RCEP agreement deepens and China-Saudi production capacity cooperation advances, China's food exports to Saudi Arabia are expected to surpass US$2 billion by 2026. As a leading player in the industry, Guanqun Aquatic Products' participation in the exhibition not only reflects the company's own growth but also carries the vital mission of driving the upgrading of China's marine food industry.