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

Australia-China trade tensions

Chinese analysis on the bilateral trade crisis, pointing out that Australia’s so-called supporters are wasting no time in taking advantage of our difficulties:

‘In the process of Australia's search for an alternative market, its allies quickly took away the Chinese market share originally occupied by Australia. Not only did Canadian coking coal suppliers quickly "fill in the blanks", lobster from New Zealand also began to grab market share in China.’

The article concludes that Australia can’t rely on iron ore receipts to prop up export figures for much longer. China is intensifying its own diversification campaign with respect to mineral suppliers.

China premium seafood consumer focus

Which Australian wild-caught seafood product is even more luxurious than the rock lobster? This article has the answer:

‘Australian snow crabs are mainly produced in southwestern Australia. They have very high requirements for the growth environment. They can only grow in the sea below 0°C. The output is scarce. It is said that the global catch per week is only 2 tons, which is more expensive than wild lobsters.’

The article lists the many species of snow crab from all over the world that are available in the China market, but 'among them, the Australian snow crab has the best quality.’

Chinese foodie website Anni Gourmet has published a guide on the preparation and cooking of Australian rock lobster at home. Useful information for those caught in lockdown and unable to forgo a lobster dinner.

China e-commerce site Youxuan has ranked sales data of its top three abalone offerings. Will Australia take the top spot? (spoiler: yes) Click here to see the list with prices.

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

COVID Crisis

Southeast Asia’s COVID crisis continues. This week emergency measures were extended in Jakarta, flights were stopped in and out of Bangkok, Malaysia is about to enter its second month of a national lockdown, and most commercial activity is banned in Ho Chi Minh City, with seafood processors hard-hit.

In Singapore, the major Jurong Fishery Port has been closed until 31 July. The Singapore Food Agency has urged consumers not to panic buy or rush to purchase seafood, while the government searches for alternate seafood supply routes. Seafood at major wet markets is reportedly in short supply.

With a spate of detections of COVID-19 on imported seafood packaging in China, including the first detection of a live virus specimen, local researchers are calling for concerted global efforts to prevent cold chain transmission of the deadly disease.

STAG Trade Matters has been reporting on China Customs announcements and suspensions in relation to the detection of COVID-19 fragments on imported frozen seafood. This Chinese-language article breaks down the issue and answers a question on the minds of many Chinese consumers: given the apparent prevalence of detections on imported seafood, why doesn’t China simply ban all imports of foreign seafood?

Image: China Daily

Technology: Faux fish and traceability

Two quick technology-focused links in this edition:

Plant-based seafood is one of the fastest growing segments of the ‘alternative meat’ industry.

Traceability solutions for the premium seafood sector are in hot demand.

Image: Two Hands Website

Taiwan seafood promotion videos

Australia’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in Taiwan, Brent Moore, has been busy promoting premium Australian seafood in Taipei. Check out the videos to learn more about opportunities in this promising market and see the good work Austrade has been doing on our behalf:

Austrade food and beverage to Taiwan promo video

Brent Moore pushes seafood on Taiwan radio (facebook login may be required)

Image: Pexels

UK lobster boiling ban

Animal welfare concerns are increasingly being raised in relation to the seafood industry. Traditionally more of an issue for terrestrial livestock and poultry, lobster welfare is now in the sights of activists. This report from the UK details plans to outlaw the boiling of live lobsters. The ABC has published an examination of the issue in the Australian context.

Image: Getty Images via The Standard

US market: Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute study: fishy statistics?

Last edition we highlighted new research from the Alaskan Seafood Marketing Institute regarding US seafood consumption trends in recent years. In this opinion piece from Fishfarmermagazine.com, Martin Jaffa casts a critical eye over the study’s claims.

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the USA, Florida lobster fishers are looking forward to an improved catch after last year’s ‘extremely poor’ season.

Image: Pexels

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.