Lobster exports to China increased 27 times

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first 2 months of this year, lobster exports reached nearly $ 30 million, an increase of 1,746% over the same period in 2023. Of which, blue lobster exports accounted for more than 90% with $ 27.6 million, an 80-fold increase; followed by tropical rock lobster with $ 2.15 million, an increase of 45 times over the same period.

Vietnamese lobster is still mainly exported to the Chinese market. In the first 2 months of the year, lobster exports to this market reached nearly $ 29 million, 27 times higher than the same period last year.

From October 2023, China has stopped importing Vietnam's tropical rock lobsters because of regulations related to the country's Wildlife Protection Law. To export tropical rock lobsters to China, Vietnamese businesses must prove that the lobster seed is not caught directly from the sea, meaning the seed must be F2 generation, clearly demonstrating the farming process...

For Vietnamese businesses to export tropical rock lobsters to China again, on January 20, 2024, within the framework of the working session between the working group of MARD led by Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam with the People's Government of Guangdong Province (China) on trade cooperation and agricultural development, the two sides agreed to coordinate to handle problems in import and export of sturgeon and lobster under a special mechanism and will include it in the Protocol between the two countries. While waiting for the signing of the Protocol, China will consider and create a special mechanism for Vietnamese establishments to register to export lobster to this country.

While waiting for the above special mechanism, many tropical rock lobster farmers in Vietnam have switched to raising blue lobsters. The demand for blue lobsters from China is also quite high, so in recent times, many Vietnamese businesses have promoted the export of live blue lobsters to this market. In addition, a small portion of tropical rock lobster is exported to China as frozen products.

In addition to China, Vietnam also exports blue lobsters and tropical rock lobsters to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and crayfish to the US.