- Crustacea of the genus Arthropoda, crabs belong to the Decapoda along with shrimps, lobsters and hermit crabs, which have ten legs. What distinguishes them from shrimps, lobsters and hermit crabs is that they have a large, flat cephalothorax and a small abdomen which bends towards the ventral part of the cephalothorax. Because of this, they are also classified as Brachyura. Of their ten legs, the foremost pair are scissors, with which they catch food and carry it to the mouth. Other legs move freely left and right, allowing the crab to walk sideways.
- Crabs are usually found in oceans. Some are found in rocky shallow seas, sandy places and muddy beaches, but the largest varieties can be found on continental shelves at up to 200m deep.
Gill nets, set at the sea bottom, are used to catch crabs.
- The market share of imported crabs in the Japanese market are as follows:
|
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
Domestic production
|
4,947 |
58,949 |
55,811 |
56,499 |
51,000 |
| Imports |
115,017 |
120,553 |
110,377 |
123,572 |
121,287 |
| % of imports |
63.9% |
67.2% |
66.4% |
68.6% |
70.4% |
(Source: Fishing and Culture Industry Production Statistical Annual Returns) (unit: ton)
As shown above, imported crabs account for some 70% of the market on a volume basis. In most cases, taraba (king crabs) and zuwai (a variety of spider crab) are imported in sections (legs plus shoulder, scissors cut from a shell).
- Crab catches have almost reached the uppermost limit worldwide, and no substantial growth is expected. There is a constantly high consumer demand, but because domestic production is small and is priced high, imports are expected to continue to account for a large share.
- Below are the imports of crabs by kind:
|
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
| 1.Taraba |
26,723 |
44,817 |
50,130 |
| Live, fresh, cold-stored |
1,908 (7%) |
6,909 (15%) |
13,194 (26%) |
| Frozen |
24,815 (93%)
|
37,908 (85%)
|
36,936 (74%)
|
| 2.Zuwai |
59,422 |
69,241 |
45,965 |
| Live, fresh, cold-stored |
2,439 (4%) |
5,553 (8%) |
7,026 (15%) |
| Frozen |
56,983 (96%) |
63,688(92%) |
38,939 (85%) |
| 3.Gazami |
9,203 |
8,613 |
6,390 |
Live, fresh, cold-stored
|
5,488 (60%) |
5,447 (63%) |
2,313 (36%) |
| Frozen |
3,715 (40%) |
3,166 (37%) |
4,077 (64%) |
| 4.Others |
3,794 |
5,151 |
1,822 |
| Live, fresh, cold-stored |
1,865 (49%) |
2,203 (43%) |
16 (0.9%) |
| Frozen |
1,929 (51%) |
2,948 (57%) |
1,806 (99.1%) |
| Total |
99,143 |
127,824 |
104,307 |
As shown above, the greater part of imported crabs are frozen.
(Source of figures: Japan Trade Monthly Returns, unit: \1 million)
- By country/region imports of crabs are:
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
| Russia |
15,3531 |
9,017 |
44,681 |
62,223 |
70,873 |
66,542 |
| Canada |
9,491 |
12,758 |
22,429 |
30,344 |
24,500 |
19,144 |
| U.S.A. |
57,844 |
54,977 |
40,359 |
23,019 |
17,211 |
13,109 |
| China |
9,337 |
7,507 |
11,261 |
8,579 |
6211 |
5,062 |
| Vietnam |
204 |
253 |
907 |
335 |
1,417 |
1,269 |
| Others |
4,717 |
4,631 |
3,236 |
3,324 |
3,593 |
3,943 |
| Total |
96,946 |
99,143 |
122,873 |
127,824 |
123,805 |
109,069 |
If we break down "Others" for 1997 into Asian countries, they are:
| South Korea |
1,413 |
| North Korea |
446 |
| India |
362 |
| Thailand |
139 |
| Indonesia |
129 |
| Pakistan |
50 |
| Malaysia |
50 |
| Philippines |
50 |
| Sri Lanka |
25 |
| Taiwan |
19 |
Non-Asian countries
|
1,260 |
The U.S.A. and Russia are the main exporters of taraba, Canada for zuwai, and China for gazami (blue crabs).
(Source of figures: Japan Trade Monthly Returns, unit: \1 million)
- In 1997, Japanese crab exports were:
A:
| Frozen |
722,890 |
| - China |
379,792 |
| - U.S.A. |
145,134 |
| - Hong Kong |
89,271 |
| - Thailand |
32,221 |
- South Korea
|
24,665 |
| - Taiwan |
18,875 |
| - Malaysia |
14,485 |
| - Others |
18,447 |
B:
| Non-frozen |
7,198 |
| - Hong Kong |
4,114 |
| - China |
1,259 |
| - Malaysia |
748 |
| - Singapore |
593 |
- South Korea
|
484 |
They were only \730 million worth, representing only 0.67% of total imports of \109 billion.
- Although crab imports are not restricted (Import Quota item), procedures are required to be taken in accordance with the Quarantine Act and Food Sanitation Act.
The Quarantine Act requires inspections for cholera germs. If cholera germs are found, import is prohibited and disinfection is carried out.
The Food Sanitation Act stipulates that those who wish to import crabs file an import register. After customs clearance, importers are required to submit their cargo with a "foods, etc. import register" and other designated documents to the quarantine station. If they are packed in a container, it is required to display species, expiration date, address and name of the manufacturer or processor, whether additives are used, the storage method and whether it is suitable for eating raw. They are also required to display species, whether it was defrosted or cultured, and country or place of production in accordance with the fishery products labelling guidelines.
In addition, they are required to display species, size, quantity, name of packer, etc. on corrugated cartons.
- In Japan, annual consumption of crabs is approx. 200,000 tons. They are mostly consumed by the food-service industry, but some are used for canned foods or consumption at home. For processed goods, frozen crabs are mainly used. In recent years, the unit price has decreased due to an increase in imports, resulting in more consumption at home.
- The three distribution channels are:
- Market transactions: Suppliers -> Wholesalers -> Jobbers -> Mass merchandisers, retailers, food-service industry
- Out-of-the-market transactions: Processors -> Wholesalers -> Jobbers -> Mass merchandisers, retailers, food-service industry
- Import channel: Importers -> Mass merchandisers, processors, food-service industry
- In accordance with the agreement in the Uruguay Round, import tax has been reduced stepwise since January 1, 1995.
Source of figures: Japan Trade Monthly Returns
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