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.

S T A G N E W S B I T E S

C H I N A N E W S

Below are China-related articles or articles translated from Chinese media that focus on consumption trends in relation to seafood imports and exports.

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

China’s seafood import sector squeeze

Last edition we commented on the modest two percent increase in China’s seafood imports for the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. This interesting analysis (Chinese) looks at some of the deeper problems facing the country’s seafood import market. China’s Covid-19 Delta variant outbreak, a shortage of containers, and the rising cost of freight are all factors.

Last week, China’s supply constraints tightened even further with the sudden closure (or partial closure) of the world’s third-busiest port in Ningbo due to a single Covid-19 case. The measure is causing knock-on effects across Chinese and regional ports, as detailed in this article from Al-Jazeera.

Commentary on detained Australian lobster consignments

Some general commentary on the detainment of Australian live lobster consignments in China, emphasising the technical justification for increased customs inspections, while not ignoring political factors:

‘Australia is now studying the relevant regulations of China Customs to provide more help to the Australian lobster industry so that Australian lobsters can pass the inspection smoothly.’

An introduction to green-lipped abalone

This piece is a short explainer for Chinese consumers on the prized green-lipped abalone:

‘Abalone is a precious marine treasure with very high nutritional value. It is known as the "soft gold" of the ocean and is deeply loved by people. There are many varieties of abalone, but there is one kind of abalone that is rare. It is green-lipped abalone. Where is the origin of green-lipped abalone? Let’s learn about it together…’

Also includes a bonus section: What are the top abalone varieties in the world?

Geography of China’s crab industry

With the Chinese mid-Autumn festival fast approaching, it can mean only one thing: crab madness. The Shanghai hairy crab is a national delicacy consumed in vast quantities during the late September to early October mid-Autumn period.

This article provides an overview of the country’s crab-centred economy, accounting for more than 13 percent of all seafood enterprises in China. There is an emphasis on the research and technology-intensive aspects of the crab business.

Indeed, China’s crab sector has long pioneered new retail distribution concepts (or perhaps eye-catching PR gimmicks) for the live crustacean market: check out this article from 2013

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

Japan: Covid-19 and seafood trade update

The Japanese government has extended and expanded its Covid-19 state of emergency. The measures will be in place for Tokyo and five other regions until 12 September, and expanded to seven more prefectures as infections increase.

Meanwhile, Seafoodsource.com reports on Japan Ministry of Finance statistics showing seafood export levels in the first half of 2021 surpassed pre-Covid levels by nearly 5 percent and eclipsed the 2020 level by 27 percent. Hong Kong, China, and the USA took nearly 60 percent of Japan’s seafood and fishery product exports, which were predominately scallops, cultured pearls, yellowtail, processed sea cucumber, mackerel, and tuna – including skipjack.

On the other hand, according to Seafoodnews.com, Japan’s seafood import volumes have been sluggish in recent months. Read the full report here (paywall).

At the same time, more attention is being focused on the issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a component of Japan’s seafood imports, as this Kyodo investigation explores.

Image: Unsplash

Indonesian seafood industry takes a hit (video)

This video from Channel News Asia looks at the impact of Covid-19 on Indonesia’s seafood production industry and international seafood trade.

Image: Unsplash

Singapore seafood restaurant adapts to Covid-19 conditions

As Singapore begins to ease Covid-19 restrictions with improved vaccination levels, local restaurant House of Seafood has launched a unique in-car dining service for fresh seafood lovers. How can you replicate the experience of a high-end seafood dining experience in a car? Not very comfortably, in my opinion, but points for trying. Check out this story for details.

Image: House of Seafood Facebook

US consumers demand local, safe, and sustainable seafood

Seafoodsource.com is reporting on a recently released poll revealing 84 percent of US voters would be open to stricter environmental regulation of aquaculture industries.

“Americans value local seafood and want to know that the fish they eat is caught or raised safely and sustainably”

On the question of provenance specifically, nearly 70 percent of respondents were ‘concerned with the origin of their seafood’.

Image: Unsplash

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The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) creates informative resources for Australian seafood exporters. The STAG receives funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The FRDC plans, invests in, and manages fisheries research and development throughout Australia. It is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture Water and the Environment and is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry.

This STAG publication contains informal translations 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.