What is the crab market situation in China in October?

The crab market in October 2024 presents the following situation:

Mitten crab:

• The market volume is gradually increasing: 

In the early stage, due to factors such as high temperature and typhoons, the molting cycle of mitten crabs is prolonged, the mortality rate is increasing, and the maturation time is later. Although the lake has officially opened for fishing on September 25th, most of the crabs that have been launched in the early stage are of small and medium-sized specifications. A large number of mature crabs are expected to be on people's dining tables in early to mid October, so the number of mitten crabs on the market in October will continue to increase.

• The price is relatively high but has a downward trend: 

due to the impact on the production of mitten crabs this year and insufficient supply in the early stage, the price has increased under the stimulation of demand during the Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. But with a large number of mitten crabs on the market in the first and middle of October, prices are expected to slightly decrease.

• Diversified sales channels: 

In addition to traditional offline store sales and dealer sales, online sales channels such as e-commerce platforms and live streaming sales are still popular. Many businesses showcase the crab fishing process directly by the lake through online live streaming, attracting consumers to make purchases.

Swimming crab:

The price is relatively stable: on October 10th, the highest price for horseshoe crabs in major wholesale markets across the country was 140 yuan/kg, and the lowest price was 100 yuan/kg. Overall, the price of horseshoe crabs remained relatively stable in October, but there may be some price fluctuations in different regions and markets.

Dungeness crab:

The prices are relatively stable and fluctuate within a certain range in some wholesale markets. For example, the average price of precious crabs at the Lingjiatang Agricultural and Sideline Products Wholesale Market in Changzhou on October 1st was 111.21 yuan/jin.

Overall, the supply of crabs in the market gradually increased in October, and prices varied due to factors such as variety, origin, and specifications. Consumers can choose according to their own needs and budget when purchasing.