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 Translated Media
Below are four articles translated from Chinese media that focus on chilled transportation that is still suffering from the pressures of inspection, storage, and cargo fees.
Note: If foreign articles are opened in Chrome, they can be automatically translated
Cold chain frozen products at Pudong Airport this Spring Festival
From the 28th January, the import and export volume of Pudong Airport increased significantly. Epidemic prevention materials, cold chain goods and electronic products all increased significantly, with cold chain goods reaching 120 tonnes per day. This represents an increase of 20% compared to previous months.
Every single imported product piece still needs to be sterilised and the freight centre continues to be in lockdown, with staff only permitted to enter with a Health QR code and a negative COVID result. All operators have regular nucleic acid tests and are listed as a high priority to receive COVID vaccinations. The article also contains many photos of the current cargo and disinfection areas. Read more here
Cold chain food disposal insurance now in place
To reduce the potential financial loss of enterprises and assist government regulations, Ningbo Banking and the Insurance Regulation Department have launched a cold chain food disposal insurance to reduce business risks.
According to reports, all companies engaged in cold chain food in Ningbo can take out this insurance. The premium is 500 yuan/container and the maximum insured amount is 300,000 yuan. If the insured’s goods are detected to carry infectious disease viruses, the insurance company shall compensate for the losses. Read more here about the cold chain food disposal insurance in China
Sales of seafood and aquatic products soared by an average of 20% during Spring Festival
Affected by the prevention and control of the epidemic, the "Stay at where you work for Chinese New Year" campaign, changed consumption habits, with this year's Spring Festival consumer market showing new changes and characteristics.
In the seafood trading area of the Chengdu Agricultural Products Centre and Wholesale Market, seafood was being shipped by air from the domestic coastal areas with plenty of stock. Whilst the number of people who came to the market to buy seafood was much less than in previous years, seafood merchants claimed that this year's sales volume increased by about 20% on average.
It was also reported that 99 yuan Boston lobster was not available this Chinese New Year, but larger sizes were available of 750-1000g costing 398 yuan. In the wholesale market, most Boston lobster from Canada and the US was over 750g, with a whole price of 180 yuan each. Smaller sizes of 600-700g, were reported as costing 150 yuan each. Read more here about seafood sales in China over the holiday period
Prosperity Optimal (fresh food community group) tipped to be a hot investment
Prosperity Optimal is a local brand from Hunan Province that focuses only on fresh food as part of a community shopping group. In 2020 it had a $4 billion turnover.
Community Group Shopping in fresh vegetables, seafood and other daily consumption food retailing has become the hottest investment trend in retailing even under the pressure of 2020 COVID-19. E-commerce giants Alibaba, JD.com, Meituan and Pingduoduo joined this type of retailing with new departments or collaborations with traditional supermarket giants. Read about fresh food community groups in China here
OTHER M A R K E T N E W S
Seafood Show Osaka 2021
Source: Seafood Show Osaka
Seafood Show Osaka 2021 has received significant buyer interests and registrations for this expo.
This year overseas companies who are interested in exhibiting but who can not travel to Japan can send sales materials. There will be interpreters and assistants to promote your sales materials, collect visitors’ business cards and enquiries and these will be sent to you with the data and post-show reporting. You can also request optional services such as to be connected to visitors and interested buyers directly online via the computer kiosk during the expo. Click here for the plans and rates for Seafood Show Osaka
COVID strengthens home meal replacement trend in Japan
Source: Seafood Source, 26th February 2021
Instead of eating out, many Japanese consumers have been turning to fast food, take-out, and more frequently, to home meal replacements for convenience, with the latter option known to feature seafood in sushi and tempura formats, among other options.
Read about the new eating trend in Japan here
Tokyo calls for 2-extension of emergency
Source: The Japan Times, 3rd March 2021
Tokyo will ask the central government to extend a state of emergency by about two weeks for the capital and three neighboring prefectures.
In January, the government placed 11 of its 47 prefectures under emergency restrictions to run through March 7, but it lifted the curbs early for all but the Tokyo metropolitan area, which also includes Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures. Read more here
Image: Kyodo
Hong Kong’s supermarkets making steady improvements in sustainability efforts
Source: Seafood Source, 24th February 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on Hong Kong’s seafood trade, but the city retains an outsized role in Asia in promoting more sustainable consumption of seafood.
Read here about how the two big supermarket groups have set a clearer target to introduce sustainable seafood by 2025.
Image: Sorbis
Sanford, Sealord products flagged by Chinese Customs
Source: Seafood Source, 11th February 2021
Two of New Zealand’s largest seafood companies have had shipments flagged by Chinese Customs.
China has temporarily blocked all imports of products from Sanford Ltd.’s Havelock mussels processing facility and Sealord Group’s Nelson facility that processes finfish and fishmeal for animal feeds.
The suspension was due to “issues around the interpretation of the World Health Organisation’s COVID guidance, and food safety management.” Read about the Chinese Customs blocks here
Image: Alizada Studios
Stronger RMB some comfort to seafood trade
Source: Seafood Source, 11th February 2021
The Chinese government’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 will lead to further GDP growth this year but the cancellation of some Chinese New Year celebrations will drag down consumer spending.
Business and consumer sentiment has been dented by new containment measures before the Chinese New Year, but an increasingly stronger renminbi will be of some comfort to seafood importers. Read more here
Image: Maksym Kapliuk
Eight story RAS set for Singapore
Source: The Fish Site, 22nd February 2021
An eight-storey fish farm that is currently being developed by the Apollo Aquaculture Group in Singapore is due to start operations in the first quarter of this year.
The facility's first phase of operations will involve the production of hybrid grouper and coral trout. To read more about this aquaculture development click here.
Image: Discover Cruising
The power of seafood
Source: IntraFish, 23rd February 2021
The Power of Seafood 2021 report includes important insights on the impact of the pandemic on shoppers’ habits and preferences for seafood, which have widened in many respects. Beyond pandemic-related changes that have affected what, how and why people buy seafood, this report reveals other priorities that are driving consumers’ taste for seafood, from sustainability to convenience to variety.
Access the Power of Seafood report here
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.
Copyright © 2021, Seafood Trade Advisory Group. All rights reserved.
