Crackdown on smuggling, international market keeps premium seafood prices high in China
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [CAPMA] Translated by Amy Zhong - Oct 22, 2014
Some Chinese consumers have wondered why premium seafood prices for lobster, crab and geoduck have remained high, despite the widespread crackdown on corruption called the “eight rules” which has limited government bureaucrats access to expensive meals. In Fuzhou, it seems that paying international prices, a crack down on smuggling, and strong consumer demand have all contributed to keeping seafood prices high.
“Why is the price of high-end seafood still so high with the announcement of President Xi’s “eight rules”? For example, the lobster price is close to 300 yuan/jin (1 jin = 0.5 kilo)”, said Wu, a confused consumer from Fuzhou, Fujian to the reporter from Strait News. Yesterday the reporter paid a visit to the local market and found that the prices of imported high-end food are in accordance with the international market situation.
The output of such expensive seafood as lobsters and geoducks this year is similar to those of the previous years, but there are a great decrease in the smuggling of these seafood and an increase in the transportation cost, which have led to the high prices of these seafood.
The current prices of some expensive seafood increase by 10% compared with the same period last year....
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