The price of hairy crabs in China has halved, as abundant production coupled with declining consumption – News – Rti China Central Radio

Chinese hairy crabs are in peak season. Although the output and quality have improved this year, the price has been cut in half. A 2-pound female crab costs as little as 7 yuan (about NT$31). In addition to abundant production, experts point out that declining consumption capacity is also the main reason for the price plunge.

Lu Media Workers Daily reported on the 14th that hairy crabs, which have recently been in the peak season for listing, suddenly appeared on the hot topic lists of many social platforms due to “price cuts in half”; the price of hairy crabs in Chongqing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and other places hit historical lows.

The report quoted Ms. Ji, who lives in Chongqing, as saying on the 12th that when hairy crabs first came on the market, they cost 30 or 40 yuan each. Now they are half the price, and they have dropped by 6 or 7 yuan in the past two days compared with last week.

Reports pointed out that sufficient supply should be the main reason for the decline in hairy crab prices.

In the Chongqing market, hairy crabs come from all over the world. In addition to the two major production areas of Jiangsu and Hubei, there are also many from Fujian and Hunan. There are also a large number of locally farmed crabs, with dozens of types of hairy crabs competing on the shelves.

In the large-scale Sanya Bay Seafood Market in Chongqing, the hairy crab section of every aquatic product store has clearly marked prices, most of which are priced at 10 yuan. “Now is the time to eat crabs. Producing areas will seize this month to ship as soon as possible, causing prices to drop.” Liu Hongming, who is engaged in aquatic products business, said that taking female crabs as an example, the price of two-weighted crabs has been reduced by almost half, and retail prices have dropped by almost half. The lowest price is only 7 yuan each.

In recent years, due to the rapid development of the crab breeding industry in mainland China, the supply of hairy crabs has changed from short supply in previous years to oversupply this year.

The report quoted a research and analysis report released by Zhongyan Puhua Industrial Research Institute as stating that in 2021, mainland China’s river crab breeding area will be 8 million acres, and the total breeding output will be 808,300 tons; in 2022, the national hairy crab output will be 782,200 tons, and the demand will be 776,900 tons.

The report pointed out that compared with last year’s freezing, high temperature and other unfavorable weather, this year’s crab breeding areas have had smooth weather and a suitable climate. Hairy crab production has reached its peak in the past three years. This year’s production should be more than 800,000 tons, and the output value should be around 35 billion yuan. .

In the most famous Yangcheng Lake production area in Suzhou, Yao Shuisheng, director of the press office of the local hairy crab industry association, said that the total output of Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs this year is expected to be 11,000 tons, an increase of 1,600 tons from last year.

The report quoted Ma Wenfeng, a senior analyst at Beijing Oriental Agricultural Consulting, as saying that the current price of edible agricultural products has not increased and has dropped significantly compared with last year. The decline in hairy crab prices is inevitable; “Insufficient consumption power is also an important reason for the price reduction of hairy crabs this year.”

Zhu Danpeng, a Chinese food industry analyst, said that the market supply and demand relationship has changed a lot this year. Hairy crabs have generally entered a price plunge cycle, but the rigid demand for high-quality hairy crabs still exists objectively.