Will China drive up lobster prices?

Keisuke Furuike, president of Seaborn Japan Ltd., a lobster importer based in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, said lobster prices remain relatively low this year, and the Japanese yen remains fairly high, despite some weakening recently.

But low prices for Canadian lobster may not last all that long in Asia if Chinese demand increases.

"We're very anxious about China," said Furuike. "If Chinese demand gets bigger, the price will be higher. Spiny [lobster] prices are already higher, but there are a lot of lobsters in Canadian waters now. So the price hasn't risen equally."

Canadian lobstermen have been complaining about the low prices they receive since the economic crisis took hold in late 2008. Established in late 2009, the Canadian Lobster Council plans to boost its branding and marketing efforts in the Chinese market.

Furuike doesn't think that branding would have much impact in Japan. "Japanese don't care where it's from," he said.

Seaborn imports American lobsters by air from Atlantic Canadian, holds them live and then processes them for distribution to hotel banquet halls, mostly for wedding receptions.

Wedding receptions are big events in Japan, often held at hotels provided with their own wedding chapel. French-style course meals are typically served. June is the most popular month for weddings, with winter the least popular.

Seaborn offers boiled lobster on the half-cut shell or as tails only. They ship nationwide via Yamato Transport Co. Ltd., a parcel delivery company with chilled and frozen service.

Furuike likes the quality of Canadian lobster, especially from southern Nova Scotia. "Hard shells, black color, full meat; it's the best," he said.

Seaborn imports about 80 metric tons of live lobsters by air per year. Usually, Furuike deals with R&D Nickerson of Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia. The company has a Japanese international sales manager, making it easy for him to do business. He also imports smoked salmon by ocean container from Vancouver, Canada, dealing mainly with Ten Point Enterprises Ltd., which also employs a Japanese salesman.

Seaborn does not deal in spiny lobster. Japan has an indigenous spiny lobster, called Ise ebi, and spiny imports come mainly from Australia. Fedecoop of Ensenada, Baja California, promoted Mexican spiny lobster at the FOODEX trade show near Tokyo last month, but the company is new to the market.

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