Global crab supply countries adjust market strategies to meet the demands of the two major consumer countries, China and the United States.
Published Dec 3, 2025
Tridge summary
China remains the world's largest consumer of live crabs, while the United States is the primary import destination for frozen crabs, and Japan's role as a key crab importer has significantly weakened.
In 2024, China imported 133,000 tons of crabs and crab products, a 12% increase year-on-year, valued at $2.1 billion, with Russia being the main supplier, providing 351,080 tons, a 17% increase year-on-year, with imports exceeding $1.2 billion, accounting for 60% of the total import value.
In the first nine months of this year, Russia's exports of live crabs to China accounted for nearly 80% of its total live crab exports.
Vietnam and Canada followed closely behind, with Vietnam supplying 16,000 tons of crabs to China in 2024, with a 17% year-on-year increase in supply in the first five months of the year.
China's total crab consumption in 2024 was approximately 2 million tons.
Russia's crab quota for 2026 is expected to be around 109,000 tons, with 75% of the fishery companies focusing on live crab exports. Specifically, there are 22 companies in the Far East region that specialize in producing live king crabs, primarily targeting the Chinese and South Korean markets.
While China promotes live seafood, due to domestic supply constraints, the United States has become the primary destination for affordable frozen crabs worldwide.
With the closure of the Alaska king crab fishery and a significant drop in domestic production, over 90% of the United States' crab demand relies on imports.
As of July 2025, the total imports of snow crabs and king crabs in the United States reached unprecedented levels, with snow crab imports alone reaching 123.9 million pounds, exceeding the total imports for the entire year of 2024.
Canada is the main supplier to the U.S. frozen snow crab market, accounting for about 90% of the market share. In the first eight months of 2025, Canada exported over 53,000 tons of snow crabs to the United States, an 11% increase, while its exports to China and Japan fell by 73% and 49%, respectively, during the same period.
Major suppliers such as Russia, Canada, and Norway are actively adjusting their fishing and export plans to meet the specific logistical and quantity demands of the robust and unique U.S. and Chinese markets.
In 2024, China imported 133,000 tons of crabs and crab products, a 12% increase year-on-year, valued at $2.1 billion, with Russia being the main supplier, providing 351,080 tons, a 17% increase year-on-year, with imports exceeding $1.2 billion, accounting for 60% of the total import value.
In the first nine months of this year, Russia's exports of live crabs to China accounted for nearly 80% of its total live crab exports.
Vietnam and Canada followed closely behind, with Vietnam supplying 16,000 tons of crabs to China in 2024, with a 17% year-on-year increase in supply in the first five months of the year.
China's total crab consumption in 2024 was approximately 2 million tons.
Russia's crab quota for 2026 is expected to be around 109,000 tons, with 75% of the fishery companies focusing on live crab exports. Specifically, there are 22 companies in the Far East region that specialize in producing live king crabs, primarily targeting the Chinese and South Korean markets.
While China promotes live seafood, due to domestic supply constraints, the United States has become the primary destination for affordable frozen crabs worldwide.
With the closure of the Alaska king crab fishery and a significant drop in domestic production, over 90% of the United States' crab demand relies on imports.
As of July 2025, the total imports of snow crabs and king crabs in the United States reached unprecedented levels, with snow crab imports alone reaching 123.9 million pounds, exceeding the total imports for the entire year of 2024.
Canada is the main supplier to the U.S. frozen snow crab market, accounting for about 90% of the market share. In the first eight months of 2025, Canada exported over 53,000 tons of snow crabs to the United States, an 11% increase, while its exports to China and Japan fell by 73% and 49%, respectively, during the same period.
Major suppliers such as Russia, Canada, and Norway are actively adjusting their fishing and export plans to meet the specific logistical and quantity demands of the robust and unique U.S. and Chinese markets.
Original content
China remains the world's largest consumer of live crabs, while the United States is the primary import destination for frozen crabs, and Japan's role as a key crab importer has significantly weakened. In 2024, China imported 133,000 tons of crabs and crab products, a 12% increase year-on-year, valued at $2.1 billion, with Russia being the main supplier, providing 351,080 tons, a 17% increase year-on-year, with imports exceeding $1.2 billion, accounting for 60% of the total import value. In the first nine months of this year, Russia's exports of live crabs to China accounted for nearly 80% of its total live crab exports. Vietnam and Canada followed closely behind, with Vietnam supplying 16,000 tons of crabs to China in 2024, with a 17% increase in supply in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year. China's total crab consumption in 2024 is estimated to be around 2 million tons. Russia's crab quota for 2026 is expected to be around 109,000 tons, with ...
Source: Foodmate
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