STAG NEWS BITES is produced for Australian Seafood Exporters, containing important updates and informal translations of news from Asian media sources. Any information provided as part of this trade news service is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and business objectives.

Australian Lobster Export Update

The Australian rock lobster industry is working hard behind the scenes to resume trade with China as soon as practical.

Australian rock lobster has a reputation as a global leader in quality, reliability and sustainability. Our waters are some of the cleanest in the world. Our food safety and quality systems are world class and fully compliant with the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products standards set by the FAO and WHO.

Chinese authorities recently advised of changes to their border inspection protocols for lobster. This happens in markets from time to time and we fully respect the right of governments to implement systems and processes to protect their citizens.

As a result of the changes to the border inspection protocols the industry has temporarily stopped rock lobster exports and are working with Chinese and Australian authorities to understand and respond to the new requirements.

In the meantime, planning is well underway to service markets other than China, including the Australian domestic market where demand is expected to be high over the next few months.

Further updates will be provided as details become known. To register for updates
please contact us admin@seafoodtradeadvisory.com

Regional comprehensive economic partnership

Following eight years of negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed Sunday after agreements were reached across the $30-trillion market.

The trade agreement between member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, China, Japan and New Zealand accounts for approximately 30% of the world's population and just under 30% of the global GDP.

To read the full article and how this impacts Australian seafood exports, click here

For other media articles published on the RCEP, including foreign media (if opened in Chrome, articles can be automatically translated into English):

Mega free-trade deal a lifeline for Australia-China relations

Regional trade deal to boost export opportunities for Aussie farmers and businesses

Asia forms the world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

Asia Pacific countries form world's largest trading bloc

Officially signed! The world's largest free trade agreement reached

Double 11 shopping festival and COVID's impact on frozen and chilled seafood

Yesterday's foreign media articles related to seafood and the recent Double 11 shopping festival can be found below (if opened in Chrome, articles can be automatically translated into English):

1. The Double 11 Shopping Festival achieved about 5000 billion yuan sales amount in one day as a new record. The top three consumption provinces are still Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, but consumption in the northern provinces increased significantly compared to previous years. To read more, click here

2. China's catering industry’s growth rate was 0.8% in October which is the first positive increase in 2020. Online shopping also increased by 10.9% during the previous 9 months. To read more, click here

3. Serious issues in regards to frozen import products packaging are being reported with many cities declaring positive test cases. There are currently 4 cases in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. To read more, click here

4. Fujian Province's market regulation department announced that frozen/chilled products cannot enter the market without a tracking code. The main seafood consumption cities also launched a similar policy in regards to tracking systems, like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao City. To read more, click here

5. GACC has published an official document to communicate with 109 countries and regions how to reduce the risks in imported frozen/chilled food. To read more, click here

O T H E R M A R K E T N E W S

China COVID-19 restrictions to remain until at least January

Source: Seafood Source, 17th November 2020

China’s testing of seafood for COVID-19 traces will remain strict for the rest of the year which will negatively impact the broader food market in China.

China is taking a hard stance against all types of frozen foods, and not just seafood. Chinese authorities are being careful, and traceability is now incredibly important. This is so upstream and downstream directions and isolation of the questionable product can be removed if COVID is detected.

To read more, click here

China halts some Indian cuttlefish imports after COVID found on packages

Source: Global Times, 15th November 2020

Chinese Customs has halted some Indian cuttlefish imports after certain packaging tested positive for COVID-19, a move that could affect the Indian seafood export industry.

China announced to suspend declaration for imported cuttlefish of M/s. Basuinternational (UnitI) for one week, after three packages of a batch of frozen cuttlefish tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

To read more, click here

84% concerned about record coronavirus cases in Japan

Source: The Japan Times, 15th November 2020

Over 80% of respondents expressed concern about the number of new coronavirus cases reaching a record high in Japan in recent days, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.

The nationwide telephone survey, conducted over the weekend, found that 68.4% said the government's response to the pandemic should be its top priority rather than economic stimulus.

To read more, click here

Image credit: Reuters

Chinese e-commerce player Yiguo declares bankruptcy

Source: Seafood Source, 12th November 2020

China’s annual online commerce biggest holiday, “Singles Day,” on 11 November once again brought heavy promotion and discounting by Alibaba platforms like Tmall.

But with Yiguo e-commerce entering bankruptcy this month, there is evidence that the intensely competitive online marketplace in China may be pushing weaker rivals out of reach of the major players.

To read more, click here

Western Australia aquaculture eyes off Taiwan

Source: Austrade, 9th November 2020

Australian seafood exporters are diversifying markets in Asia – and Taiwan is proving receptive, according to Austrade in Taipei.

In October, more than 50 leading Taiwanese seafood importers, distributors, restaurants owners and supermarket buyers gathered at Austrade’s Taipei office for a live virtual seafood showcase event.

The online gathering featured eight seafood exporters from Western Australian.

Jointly delivered by Austrade Taipei and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the event was a business-matching service that brought together leading seafood buyers with high-quality products from Western Australia.

To read more, click here

Latest MSC survey highlights “generational shift” in consumer sentiment

Source: Seafood Source, 11th November 2020

A new far-reaching survey by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is indicating a generational shift in how consumers in North America view sustainability when they go to purchase seafood.

The survey – part of a biannual effort by the MSC – surveyed more than 4,000 seafood consumers in North America, and finding that seafood sustainability is increasingly important to consumers across all generations, but is most important to those between 18 to 34 years old.

To read more, click here

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STAG News Bites is a resource for Australian seafood exporters, currently funded by the Abalone Council Australia Ltd, Southern Rocklobster Ltd, Australian Abalone Growers Association, Western Rocklobster Council and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. We acknowledge past funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through the Package Assisting Small Exporters.

This STAG publication contains informal translation of foreign and Asian media. Any information provided as part of this trade news service is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and business objectives.