North American scallops are attracting attention from Chinese buyers as a substitute for Japanese Hokkaido scallops

Since China suspended imports of Japanese aquatic products on August 24, there has been a demand gap of 100,000 tons in the scallop market, attracting the attention of a group of U.S. and Canadian exporters. ​ At this year's Qingdao Fisheries Expo, Chinese importers expressed strong interest in North American scallops, and scallops seem to have become a seller's market. ​ A source told UCN: "In the past, Chinese buyers usually purchased Ezo scallops from Hokkaido, Japan, to supplement the lack of domestic production. Since the Japanese seafood ban came into effect, a huge gap has been left in the market. There is no doubt that It’s a seller’s market, with Canadian and American scallop suppliers being the big winners at the show.” ​ Shawn Harding, international business director of Eastern Fisheries, a fishery company in Massachusetts, said: "Many Chinese buyers at the exhibition were very interested in our scallops. Traditionally, China has not been our main market." ​ ...