The Australian lobster sector is hopeful of an imminent return to the lucrative Chinese market.
Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative CEO Marc Anderson, who took over the position in March, said at the 2024 Seafood Expo Global his organization is “very optimistic” that exports of live lobster into China will soon be permitted after being blocked since 2020. Based in North Fremantle, Australia, Geraldton had built up a large presence in the Chinese lobster market under its Brolos brand.
“There are negotiations going on at the government level, and we have seen the normalization of wine exports and barley; we hope lobsters could be next,” Anderson told SeafoodSource.
Australian lobsters have been locked out of China since November 2020 as a result of a souring of the Sino-Australian economic relationship. Since that time, Australian exporters have reduced their reliance on China by seeking new buyers in America and Asia, according to Anderson. However, the premium prices paid by Chinese buyers make that market very attractive. Many Chinese buyers prize the appearance of the Australian lobster, suggesting its dragon-like markings are auspicious.
Last November, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showed up at the China Import/Export Fair in Shanghai for a photo session featuring Australian lobsters, leading to speculation that a reopening of the market was imminent.
The cachet associated with the Australian lobster has led to some opportunistic Chinese aquaculture operators farming what they claim to be Australian lobsters. The term “Australian lobster” is also used to describe lobster from Australasia, with New Zealand-origin live lobsters advertised in wholesale markets in Beijing as Australian.
Australian rock lobster prices would be boosted by a reopening of the Chinese market, according to the Australia Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.
“Export diversification is expected to be limited, but steadily continue, away from China to other destinations in the north Asia and ASEAN regions and to the United States,” it said in its 2024 aquaculture and fisheries outlook. “The resumption of direct exports of rock lobster to China remains a key uncertainty for the projections in this outlook. If this resumes, production and export values would likely be higher than those projected here.”
At the 2024 Seafood Expo Global, the co-operative announced the launch of a Brolos-branded range of frozen lobster retail packs that include individually packed cooked and raw spiny lobster in whole, half, and tail formats.
GFC exhibited under Brand Australia at the event, with the pavillion organized by trade organization Austrade.
"Digital technology can do many things, but for making deals in the food industry, in particular, the in-person connection is still important," Austrade Senior Business Development Manager in Madrid Manuel Barbera said. "Buyers need to have a level of trust in producers to be confident of the product and reassured of ongoing supply."
