History and Current scenario of the Chinese Pearl Industry
China is popular not just for the cheap electronics and huge population
, but also for the exceptional quality pearls it produces at a very reasonable price. China is the largest producer and exporter of pearls to the rest of the world.
All types are pearls do not grow in at all the places in the world. This is because of the varying climatic, environmental and geographical locations. Here is a small list of popular pearls and their main region of cultivation or availability.
1. Chinese freshwater pearl China
2. Tahitian Pearl and - France
3. Akoya Pearl Japan
4. South Sea Pearl - Australia
Japan was once very famous for the pearl production in pearl lands. Japanese were the first to invent the cultured pearl technology, in which pearls are artificially grown in the pearl farms. But for the past 10-15 years, the reputation of Japan has been declining as China outgrew the figures in production, sales and exporters of pearls than that of Japan's. Today, more than 90% of the 9mm sized Akoya pearls are cultivated in China and exported to Japan which was once the sole producer of the Akoya pearls.
The pearls grown in the regions of Zhuji, in the Zhejiang Province have greatest quality and are profitable for the pearl farmers of these regions in China. China imports the Tahitian black pearls from France and the South sea pearls from Australia. The pearls and jewelry made within China gets exported to US and other Asian and European markets. There is a huge support from government for the pearl industry in China in the form of sponsorships, interest free loans and tax concessions. The export duties and sales tax are also less on the pearl products and their international trades.
History and Current scenario of the Chinese Pearl Industry