The New Zealand crayfish industry is experiencing a boom, mostly thanks to increased demand from China. China accounts for two-thirds of New Zealand’s crayfish exports, employs 2500 people and earns $320 million a year.
At the start of 2020, the industry experienced a significant shock when Covid-19 sent China into lockdown. With restaurants closed, the sector saw a $38 million loss in exports. By April China was reopening restaurants and started importing crayfish again.
During this time, tensions between Australia had been building, with Australia taking a more aggressive stance towards China. In retaliation China, Australia’s biggest export market, blocked Australian imports, including wine, barley, beef, timber, lamb, coal and live lobster. Australia had previously exported about 90 per cent of its lobsters to China.
The reduction of lobsters in the China market provided an opportunity for New Zealand exporters. One New Zealand exporter describing the increased demand as being on par with Chinese New Year, and National Day of the People’s Republic of China on October 1.
