China imported more than 25,000 tonnes of Russian crab between January and June 2026, spending an estimated $697 million, Interfax reported, citing Russia's Fish Union.
The figure marks a 25 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. The Fish Union said urbanization in China has driven the growth, with nearly a billion Chinese residents now able to afford crab products through modern retail channels and restaurants.
Live crab shipments rise
Deliveries of live crabs from Russia to China grew 22 percent in the first half of the year, reaching 22,000 tonnes.
By comparison, the United States sold China 2,500 tonnes of live crabs over the same period, worth $46 million, while Canada's shipments were valued at $31 million.
Broader seafood trade
China imported nearly $2.3 billion worth of Russian fish and seafood overall from January to June 2026, 1.5 times more than in the first six months of the previous year.
