Impact of the Ukrainian-Russian Conflict on Sea Urchin Prices in Japan During February 2023

In Japan, 30% of the sea urchins are domestically developed, 70% imported, and most are imported from Russia. Due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the demand for purchases from Russia has skyrocketed. The average wholesale price for February 2023 is USD 34.7/kg, a 1.6-fold increase compared to 2022, which is USD 21.8/kg. Domestically produced sea urchins are produced in Hokkaido, but due to the effects of the red tide that occurred in 2021, the amount of production continues to be unstable. It is uncertain how long these two-way impacts on the supply side will continue.