French oyster producer and exporter Huitres Lambert increased its shipments to China from 27 tons in 2016 to 146 tons in 2023, according to an interview with company executives on French TV.
Huitres Lambert is based in Marennes-Oléron on the coast of the French region Charente-Maritime. It is located on an estuary just off the Bay of Biscay – the largest oyster cultivation base in Europe – which has production accounting for nearly half the output of the entire French oyster industry.
China is a lucrative market for French oyster exporters. With taxes and transportation, 18 types of oysters from Huitres Lambert sell on Chinese e-commerce channels via an agent in Shanghai for EUR 2.50 (EUR 2.70) each, compared to EUR 1.30 (USD 1.40) in France, according to the report.
However, increasing dependence on Chinese sales looks precarious in the context of ...
