ASIAN MARKET

With the quantity and value of frozen spiny and rock lobster imports into China increasing steadily from less than US$850,000 in 2001 to more than $5.8million in 2006, China is looking set to be one of the larger importers of lobster into Asia, with the majority of frozen lobster for that market being sourced from Australia and Cuba. Live lobster imports into China showed similar growth, increasing from US$1.7million in 2001 to US$14.7million in 2006 (based on official trade statistics).

Imports into Asia are annually cyclical, with peaks in the early part of the year associated with Chinese New Year celebrations, this is reflected in the high value of imports in January, exceeding US$2 million in value for spiny lobster imported into China, and $17 million worth of imports sent to Hong Kong, increasing to $22 million worth of lobster imports into Hong Kong in February. Interestingly, during February 2007, there was a slight decrease in the value of lobsters imported into China during the Chinese New Year before increasing again in March 2007.

Japan’s lobster trade increased steadily during the quarter, with spiny & rock lobster products imported worth (US$9.1million), somewhat more than Homarus spp. lobster products ($5.1million) for the quarter. Australia, South Africa and the United States were the main suppliers of live and chilled lobster into the Japanese market, accounting for 77.3, 19.7 and 1.8% of imports respectively, and although small, the United States has been steadily increasing its supply of spiny lobsters to the Japanese market over the last 3 years.

The total quantities imported into Japan (YTD Mar 2007) were 20% lower than previous years, and are indicative of a general downward trend in spiny & rock lobster products imported into Japan over the last ten years.

Clawed lobsters primarily sourced from Canada and the United States accounted for the majority of ‘homarid’ lobster products entering Hong Kong and China the first quarter of 2007. Japan and Hong Kong purchased significantly more live and chilled Homarus spp. lobster than China did in the same period, with spiny lobster and / or rock lobster being the preferred choice for the Chinese market during that period.

UNITED STATES MARKET

The United States market for both frozen spiny and clawed lobster declined between January and March 2007 in terms of value and quantity of imports. The value of spiny and rock lobsters imported into the United States decreased by US$21 million from January to March, while the value of clawed lobsters decreased by US$12 million during same period.

Market reports from the United States during January to March indicated there was a decline in supply of spiny/ rock lobster products from Brazil and the Caribbean, with the availability of small size lobster tails from Brazil slowing in March, with no sales of 3oz (85gm) and 4oz (113gm) lobster tails from Brazil in mid April (Source- Urner Barry Seafood Price Current).

The supply of Australian lobster product remained strong during this period, and was supported by a peak in Western Rock lobster products, coinciding with the re-opening of the Western Australian fishing season after their summer closure (15th of January to 8th of February). The influx of Western Rock lobster into the market lifted the volume of lobsters imported by the United States by 139,000kg (for raw lobster tails alone) between February and March 2007 (Australian Bureau of Statistics and Western Rock Lobster Development Association).

The primary source of clawed lobster products into the American market is from Canada, with approximately 740,000kg of the 940,000kg or so of frozen Homarus spp. imported for the quarter arriving from Canada. The value of the Canadian lobster sent to the United States has increased steadily since the turn of the century at an average rate of 10.2% per annum, with Canada’s exports totaling US$20 million for the quarter and US$287,162,543 in the year ending March 2007 (Source- GTIS).

Alice Hurlbatt
© 2007 FAO