Chinese crayfish, shrimp exports jump in 2017

Chinese crayfish exports have soared this year, according to official statistics released by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.

Exports of crayfish jumped 68 percent in volume terms and 60.4 percent in value terms in the first four months of 2017. The recently released data didn’t include absolute figures for either volume or value.

Crayfish has become an important cash crop in parts of central China, like Hubei, where freshwater aquaculture has been in transition from carp to crayfish in recent years. Following the trend, Chinese crayfish has become more visible in the snack sections of supermarkets and convenience retailers across the European Union.

Other Chinese seafood exports were also up so far in 2017. Shrimp exports rose 11.6 percent in volume and 17.9 percent in volume terms, while shipments of tilapia were up 9.14 percent in volume and 6.68 percent in value in the first four months of the year, according to the ministry data.