After the US and Europe banned imports, Russian crabs shifted to Asia with purchases from Japan and China increasing sharply.
Imported crab meat prices are falling sharply in Japan thanks to increased supplies from Russia. Russian snow crab costs about 2,000 yen ($14) per kilogram on the wholesale market, down 33% from the 2022 average. Meanwhile, the country’s red king crab costs 5,000 yen ($34) per kilogram, 38% cheaper.
At the Uoriki food chain, all crabs are sourced from Russia, with import prices 20% to 30% cheaper than last year. Online seafood wholesale marketplace Morigen Shop offers imported crabs about 20-30% cheaper than last year.
Last year, Japan imported 74.9 billion yen (US$508 million). Russian crab alone imported 48.5 billion yen (US$330 million), up 28%, accounting for 64.8% of the market share. This year, of the 35.8 billion yen (US$244 million) in crab imports in the first three quarters, Russian crab accounted for 24.6 billion yen (US$167.5 million), increasing its market share to 68.8%.
A crab and seafood stall in Japan. Photo: Nikkei
The influx of Russian crab has increased supply, causing prices of Canadian and Norwegian crab to fall. Canadian crab is now priced at 1,800 yen ($12.2) per kilogram, and Norwegian crab is priced at 1,900 yen ($13) per kilogram, down 32% and 51% respectively from last year's average prices.
Russian crabs have begun to shift their exports to Asia after being embargoed by the US and Europe. Japan will only increase tariffs on Russian seafood in April 2022, but will not be banned from entering.
The US will ban wholesale sales of Russian seafood in March 2022. The country has been Russia's largest crab market, accounting for half of its exports. Meanwhile, as a major supplier, the Japanese Fisheries Agency said the ban on Russian crab would have a major impact on the country's seafood processing industry.
Tsukiji Kanisho, a Tokyo-based merchant, opened a crab restaurant in March using red king crab caught in the Barents Sea, off the coast of Russia and Norway. The United States used to pay more than other countries for that particular crab, but now it’s more accessible and cheaper, he said.
If the ban is implemented, it will not be easy for Japan to find large supplies at good prices. Alaskan crab (US) has been in decline, and fishing for some species has been banned in areas such as the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands since 2022. A source told Nikkei that there are few alternatives to Russia in securing the necessary food. "Despite the political risks, trade with Russia may increase in the future," the source predicted.
Russia has reoriented its crab exports to Asia after the EU and US markets were closed due to Western sanctions, according to recent statements by some of its leading crab producers. Last year, Russia’s live crab exports to China and South Korea increased by 20% to 30%. Meanwhile, frozen crab supplies also increased by 2.6 times and three times in South Korea and China, respectively.
Russian Crab, one of Russia's largest crab producers, told Vedomosti (Russia) that the Chinese market accounted for an average of 27% of the company's annual sales in 2020-2023. They forecast continued growth in exports this year.
Russian crab is in high demand in the Chinese market, but exporters say locals have little experience in processing it. To expand consumption, producers plan to promote it through crab processing classes.
"During the Russian Crab Festival in Shanghai (October 2023), we found that customers were interested in cooking methods and recipes. Therefore, during the promotion, we often held high-end culinary classes," the company said.
Phien An ( according to Nikkei, Vedomosti)
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