Global trade volatility has made some Irish crab and lobster exporters wary of relying on China as a growth market.
“China is a significant importer of our products, but we are not looking to increase this,” said Enda Carey, the manager of County Mayo, Ireland-based West Coast Crab Sales. “The current trade wars going on globally are a threat to any business exporting; for this reason, we are not looking to increase volume to China, and we feel it's important for us to try to maintain our wide-ranging customer base.”
Carey’s hesitation comes even as there appears to be growing demand in China.
Chinese seafood imports grew 5.3 percent year over year in January and February to USD 3.7 billion (EUR 3.4 billion), according to Chinese Customs, and while species like oyster have hit slumps, China’s total crab imports in 2024 grew, totaling 133,300 metric tons (MT) compared to 118,700 MT in 2023.
Before global trade tensions ratcheted up with the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term in office, China offered Irish shellfish exporters some relief, as many European markets have recently provided tepid demand.
With Chinese growth questionable and E.U. exporters now also facing U.S. tariffs on their goods, firms like West Crab Crab are severely limited on where they can turn if they want to grow.
West Coast sells approximately 50 percent of its catch into mainland Europe with the other 50 percent sold between Ireland, the U.K., and Asia. In the current trading environment, Carey said he is keen to balance his customer base without becoming too reliant on any one market.
“At the moment, we are pleased with our wide range of customers between domestic and international,” Carey said. “Expectations for prices look to be steady – down on previous years [but] still reasonable.”
As for what he’d like to see Ireland’s new government do for his sector as it faces several headwinds, Carey said more efficiency is needed.
“We would like this government to be more engaged with the fishing industry and streamline agencies within the industry where it is becoming increasingly time-consuming to deal with any of them,” he said.
