Affected by China's import ban, Japanese scallop prices fell 50% this season

Japan's Hokkaido scallop harvest is underway, but due to the impact of China's import ban, the landed price has dropped significantly year-on-year. ​ Benchmark shell scallop prices fell 50% year-on-year, according to the Iburi Funka Bay Fisheries Cooperative, which said the average price from the start of the season in October 2023 to the end of February this year was 159 yen/kg ($1.08/kg). , a 50% decrease from 329 yen in the same period last season. ​ The Iburi Funka Bay Fisheries Cooperative has been in scallop harvesting season since late February. A source at the fisheries cooperative said, “Although drought has hampered the harvest, all farmers are currently harvesting, with a maximum daily catch of over 200 tons of scallops ( the sum of the five districts). ​ In late February, tender prices for raw scallops ranged from 150 yen per kilogram ($1.00/kg) to 170 yen/kg ($1.13/kg), with some days exceeding 200 yen/kg. ​ Prices were firm compared with early February as ...