Despite an economic slowdown that has persisted since last year, China has sustained a healthy import budget for crustaceans, according to the latest GACC figures (General Administration and Customs of China). The first quarter saw shipments to China increase by 6.6%, then 7.4% in Q2 and 5.0% in Q3, so from January to September, shellfish imports rose 6.3% in volume and 6.6% in value year‑on‑year.

Shrimp account for the largest share of crustacean imports this year, representing 55% of the CNY 50,149 million total spent to date, while lobster and crab account for 23% and 21% respectively. Ecuador is China’s top crustacean supplier, accounting for 35% of import value, followed by Russia (12%) and Vietnam (11%). India and Canada are next with 9% and 7% shares.

Within the shrimp segment, warm‑water species make up the bulk of imports; cold‑water shrimp (HS codes 030617/35) represent roughly 7% of total shrimp import value. After small year‑on‑year declines in Q1, both cold‑ and warm‑water shrimp recorded double‑digit growth in Q2 and Q3. For the first three quarters combined, cold‑water shrimp import value increased by 5.5%, while warm‑water shrimp increased by 7.0%.

China’s spending on lobster imports year-to-date has surged 22.5% since 2024. Rock lobster continues to dominate China’s lobster trade by value, accounting for 72% versus 28% for Homarus. However, Homarus and rock lobster species show a stark divergence since China imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian seafood in March. Homarus americanus (North American lobster) has been hardest hit, with imports down by half (49.7%) in Q2 and 41.2% in Q3, with year‑to‑date volumes down 31.5%. By contrast, rock lobster imports surged—up 127.5% in Q1, 63.5% in Q2 and 36.5% in Q3—bringing a year‑to‑date surge of 75.1%. 

Crab imports rank third among the Chinese crustacean trade. Crab import value fell 8.4% year‑on‑year in the third quarter and is down 5.3% year‑to‑date. Russia and Vietnam are the principal suppliers of live crab to China, together accounting for the bulk of the trade: Russia holds 57% of import value (32% of volume), while Vietnam accounts for 9% of value (17% of volume).

China’s economic growth slowed to its weakest level in a year during the third quarter, as soft domestic demand left the country increasingly reliant on strong export activity. However, contacts at the Qingdao Seafood Show last week reported that the food sector appears to be holding up well, which is confirmed by the above trends this year on lobster and shrimp imports.

Image source: Getty