China recently announced that it will once again allow for the import of live lobsters from Australia – more than four years after exporters of Australian rock lobster lost access to the Chinese market due to trade tensions between the two countries.
In response to the news, Australian rock lobster companies are aiming for their products to be back on Chinese tables for New Year festivities taking place at the end of January 2025.
Marc Anderson, the CEO of Australian rock lobster fishing group Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative (GFC), told SeafoodSource that his members are ready to meet Chinese demand now that its doors have been opened again.
“We really know nothing more than the media releases stating the trade will open again by the end of this year and be ready for the Chinese New Year in late January 2025,” he said. “We have maintained ongoing relationships with our buyers we previously worked with in China while continuing to build new contacts over the last four years. We are again opening up these conversations on resupplying to these customers and look forward to our Chinese clients and their customers enjoying our fine rock lobster once again soon.”
Before Australian rock lobster exporters lost their ability to ship to the Chinese market, GFC promoted its Brolos brand of rock lobsters in China under the “Australia knows fresh” advertising slogan.
China had traditionally bought over 90 percent of Australia’s lobster exports in years leading up to the ban, with high prices fetched there being a major draw for Australian exporters. Chinese consumers, on the other hand, have stated they prize the appearance of the Australian lobster and have suggested its dragon-like colors are auspicious.
Anderson told SeafoodSource in May, though, that the industry had to quickly reduce its reliance on Chinese buyers by seeking new customers in markets such as the U.S. and other countries in Asia after the ban was implemented.
Market diversification may remain in the long-term interests of Australian lobster exporters despite the lifting of the ban in China, however, with some predicting that Australia’s position as an ally of the U.S. at a time of rising Sino-U.S. tensions may draw the ire of China yet again.
