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.

M A R K E T N E W S

Chinese Media

Below are five articles translated from Chinese media that focus on the current political and economic environment related to seafood imports and exports.

Note: If foreign articles are opened in Chrome, they can be automatically translated

Imported seafood trade welcomes new business opportunities

Imported seafood consumption is recovering in China as the catering industry begins to rapidly rebound from its record low levels. The rebound has revived business opportunity for imported seafood, particularly for live seafood. To read about the recovery click here.

Who put Boston Lobsters in lower-tier cities’ dining tables?

This article looks at the consumer's awareness of imported lobster in the Chinese market, and its collaboration with catering industries to increase sales and influence purchasing decisions. The development of fresh food e-commerce platforms like Hema Fresh has seen the Boston Lobster become well-known amongst a wider array of customer groups as an affordable product for daily consumption in lower-tier cities. The Boston Lobster's success is due to its stable supply chain and effective cold-chain transportation and now, the affordable price point for the customer. Read more about Boston Lobsters in China here.

January and February import statistics released by GACC

In January 2021, despite celebrating the Spring Festival, imported aquatic products (including seafood) decreased by 30% when compared with January 2020. In February 2021, imports decreased by over 50% compared to February 2020. Imported frozen fish and seafood products also decreased by 75% in the two months. Read more about GACC's import statistics here and here

Why high-end imported seafood is not as popular as before in the Chinese market

This article has analysed the reasons behind China's import growth rate decline for high-end imported seafood products, including live lobster, live abalone, and crabs. One of the key reasons for this decrease is reportedly due to the US trade war, which has seen live seafood products from the US be transferred from Canada and Mexico to the Chinese market.

Canada and New Zealand have since become the alternative international lobster exporters for meeting the demands of the Chinese market. In 2020, New Zealand exported 2,800 tons of lobster to China and is expected to increase to 3,000 tonnes in 2021.

China has also recently completed its lobster collaboration negotiation with Vietnam, Cuba and the Philippines at the China International Import Expo. A five-year collaboration program has been agreed and will see Vietnam farming lobster, with 90% of the product to be exported to China.

Read about the import growth rate decrease in high-end imported seafood here

Transportation fees will be impacted by inspections and shipping container shortage

With the Suez Canal blocked since the 23rd March, and a backlog of now over 200 vessels waiting to pass, there is currently a container deficit which is set to lead to another container leasing increase. In addition, the continued increases in inspection requirements for imported seafood which has been in cold-chain transportation is unlikely to loosen up any time soon.

Read about the Suez Canal being blocked by a Taiwanese ship here. Read about the shortage of shipping containers here and read about the unlikelihood of inspection procedures loosening up here.

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

WHO, USDA reports refute Chinese concerns over COVID-19 travelling via cold chain

Source: Seafood Source, 30th March 2021

A World Health Organization (WHO) team studying the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak has released a report saying its spread to humans from the packaging of “cold-chain” food products is possible, but not likely.

According to the Associated Press, which obtained an advanced copy of the report, the WHO team – working in conjunction with Chinese researchers – determined COVID-19 can travel through the cold chain, but that the risk of transmission is much lower than through human-to-human transfer. To read more about the possibility of Covid travelling via the cold chain system click here.

Qingdao investing in wholesale seafood market

Source: Seafood Source, 24th March 2021

The Qingdao municipal government is investing CNY 850 million (USD 127.5 million) in an international seafood trade and logistics centre in the northern Chinese city.

The Qingdao municipal government’s investment will help build the first phase of the China Yellow Sea Agricultural Wholesale Market, to be built alongside the high-speed railway line in the city suburbs. Read about Qingdao's seafood plans here.

Image: Shutterstock

China's economic growth set to continue to rebound in Q1

Source: China Daily, 25th March 2021

China's economic growth is projected to continue its rebound in the first quarter and hit a new high in recent years.

The country is predicted to see around 8 percent economic growth in the first quarter of this year, and about 6 percent for the whole year. Read about the rebound here

Image: Unsplash

China keen for early RCEP implementation

Source: Reuters, 26th March 2021

China is encouraging the early implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and members of the Asia-Pacific trade pact aim for it to take effect from 1st January 2022.

China began gathering support for the pact in 2012, in what was seen as a bid to counter growing US influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Image: Unsplash

China's seafood processing sector struggling thanks to raw materials shortage

Source: Seafood Source, 26th March 2021

This interview, with the vice general manager at Helmsman Quality and Technology Services Group, provides a first-hand view of how the pandemic has affected China’s seafood processing sector. Read the interview here

Image: Marina Huang, the vice general manager of HQTS

Fears over fourth Covid wave in Japan

Source: The Japan Times, 28th March 2021

The Japanese government is increasingly concerned about a possible fourth wave of coronavirus infections as new cases, including those involving variants, are growing in many parts of the country.

With some areas showing signs of a rebound in new infection cases, a fourth wave would complicate vaccination efforts.

The government will soon start full-fledged talks to impose pre-emergency restrictions only days after lifting its second COVID-19 emergency recently. Read more here

Image: Kyodo

February seafood imports turn upwards in Japan after eight months

Source: Seafood News, 29th March 2021

According to the February trade bulletin released by the Ministry of Finance, marine product imports (excluding non-edible marine products) increased for the first time in eight months, surpassing the same month last year. The import value also increased; it turned positive for the first time in 19 months.

In February, seafood imports were 139,172 tonnes, 94,854 million yen ($864.80 million), a significant increase of 20% in quantity.

Image: Unsplash

Panasonic now serving certified sustainable seafood at over 50 employee cafeterias

Source: Seafood Source, 16th March 2021

Fifty-one of Panasonic’s cafeterias are now serving seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and/or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

Currently half of the company’s cafeterias in Japan are serving certified sustainable seafood. The firm set a goal of increasing the number of cafeterias serving MSC- and ASC-certified seafood by 10 by the end of fiscal year 2020.

Image: Panasonic

Study suggests seafood fraud on a ' vast global scale'

Source: The Fish Site, 15th March 2021

A new analysis of 44 studies has found that 36 percent of seafood products were mislabelled.

The analysis, which was undertaken by The Guardian, examined studies of over 9,000 seafood samples from restaurants, fishmongers and supermarkets in more than 30 countries – with their findings suggesting “seafood fraud on a vast global scale”.

Read about the seafood fraud study here

Image: Unsplash

Millennials + Gen Z driving sustainable seafood purchasing shift

Source: Seafood Source, 18th March 2021

Since 1999, GlobeScan has asked a simple question during its surveys of thousands of consumers worldwide: "Do consumers choose to reward companies that show they are responsible?"

The percentage of those surveyed who responded positively to that query has remained relatively flat over the years – from 1999 through 2017, roughly 20 percent of consumers said they would consider rewarding companies that they see as “socially responsible.” But, according to survey data in 2020, that number has now jumped to 38 percent.

Read about the sustainable seafood purchasing shift here

Image: Shutterstock

Start-up unveils 3D printed plant-based salmon

Source: Food Navigator Asia, 26th February 2021

A plant-based seafood company is celebrating introducing a 3D-printed plant-based smoked salmon product.

The salmon is made with 11 ingredients, including pea protein, algae extracts, plant oils and citrus fibre.

Read about the plant-based 3D printed salmon here

Image: Revo Foods

www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com

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.