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Norway can now export live edible crabs (also known as brown crabs, Cancer pagurus) directly to China
Norway Gains Access to China's Live Crab Market, Fueling Export Growth
(CHINA, 11/13/2025)
Major Milestone Opens Door for Live Brown Crab Exports Following Snow Crab Success
China International Import Expo (CIIE)
After years of restricted access, the Norwegian seafood industry can now export live edible crab (also known as brown crab, Cancer pagurus) directly to China. This significant breakthrough, announced at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), allows the Norwegian industry to build upon its success in exporting live king crab and Nephrops (also known as Norway lobster or langoustine).
Sigmund Bjørgo presents the news in China
 Hanne-Berit Brekken, State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, made the announcement at the expo on a Friday. This makes live brown crab the second Norwegian live crustacean product to gain entry to the Chinese market, following live snow crab last year. Brekken stated she was "delighted," calling it an "important milestone" for expanding seafood exports to China.
Market Potential and Industry Preparation
The approval is a relief for the industry. Øystein Valanes, responsible for market access at the Norwegian Seafood Council (Sjømatrådet), noted that the industry had expressed this need for a long time. Helge Myrseth, Operations Director for Hitramat and a member of the Seafood Council's shellfish market group, emphasized that this new opportunity necessitates significant changes at home.
 "This market naturally requires a quality, size sorting, and viability for this to succeed," explained Myrseth. He stressed the need for adaptation on both the vessel and receiving sides to satisfy market standards. Historically, Norway had a significant export of live brown crab to Sweden back in the 60s, but recently, the main use has been cooking and processing for the domestic and export markets, with about 1,500 tonnes of cooked and processed products exported annually. Norwegian catches have typically ranged between 4,000 and 5,000 tonnes.
Export Growth and Future Projections
 The move comes as Norway's seafood exports to China are already soaring. The first three quarters of 2025 saw exports reaching 9.37 billion NOK ($918 million), a 42 percent increase over the same period in the previous year. China is now Norway's third-largest export market and the one with the highest export value growth globally.
Josefine Voraa, responsible for shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council, noted that general shellfish exports are up. In 2024, 3,200 tonnes of brown crab products were exported, valued at 340 million kroner. Into 2025, exports have increased by 21 percent in volume and 31 percent in value up to August. Back in 2019, the EU and the UK exported up to 4,500 tonnes of live brown crab with a value of 414 million kroner.
 Sigmund Bjørgo, China director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, projects that Norway's total seafood exports to China will exceed 12.5 billion NOK ($1.22 billion) in 2025.
China's Appetite for Live Crab
China's market demonstrates a massive preference for live and fresh crab, which accounts for more than 80 percent of all crab imports.
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In 2024, China imported over 134,000 tonnes of crab, valued at 22.6 billion NOK ($2.21 billion).
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 The market for brown crab specifically is growing fast, reaching about 5,000 tonnes, with volume increasing by 40 percent between 2023 and 2024.
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64 percent of brown crab imports in 2024 were live, with live imports surging by a remarkable 53 percent year-on-year.
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China is now the second largest market for brown crab after France and has the highest annual growth since 2022.
 Vebjørn Dysvik, Norway's Ambassador to China, emphasized the rising demand from Chinese consumers for "safe, healthy and high-quality seafood."
For the Norwegian brown crab industry, which previously saw France as its largest market, the move is a potential game-changer. Myrseth believes live crab to China "can be a nice addition to the usual cooking and processing" and expects the new access will lead to a significant value increase, similar to what was seen with live king crab and live Nephrops.
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