Chinese hairy crabs are super cheap.

Chinese hairy crabs, once a luxury delicacy costing millions of dong per kilogram, are now being sold in Vietnam for 350,000-800,000 dong, the lowest price ever.

Hairy crabs – considered the finest type of crab in China – have seen a continuous price drop in recent years. Last year, hairy crabs (4-5 crabs per kilogram) sold in Vietnam for 1.1 million VND per kilogram, while those (6-8 crabs per kilogram) fetched 500,000-700,000 VND per kilogram. This year, prices have fallen further by nearly 30%, to around 350,000-700,000 VND per kilogram, depending on the type.

Ms. Hoang Anh (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City) said that she buys these crabs every year but has never seen them so cheap. "From 2 million VND per kilogram when they first appeared in Vietnam, hairy crabs are now only 350,000 VND for the 6-8 crabs per kilogram and 650,000-800,000 VND per kilogram for the 4-5 crabs per kilogram," she said.

Diễm Anh from Gò Vấp, also a passionate hairy crab enthusiast, said this was the first time she'd seen this type of crab cheaper than even Vietnamese crabs and sea crabs. Previously, this type was very expensive and scarce, but now the price has dropped sharply and it's much easier to buy.

Mr. Hoang, the owner of a seafood shop on Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District, who has been selling hairy crabs for the past five years, said that more and more of this type of crab is being imported into Vietnam, making the price more affordable and accessible.

According to him, the price of hairy crabs has dropped sharply this year because importers are focusing on smaller sizes and lower-grade (grades 2 and 3) crabs rather than grade 1 crabs. In addition, China has significantly increased hairy crab farming, creating an abundant supply and consequently driving down prices.

However, Mr. Tran Van Truong, CEO of Hoang Gia seafood chain, noted that in the Chinese market, grade 1 hairy crabs still cost millions of VND per kilogram. Most of the crabs priced at 350,000-400,000 VND sold in Vietnam are inferior quality, with less firm meat and less roe.

"Currently, hairy crabs are in their peak season, with October being the time when they are of the best quality. We are waiting to import them when they reach their highest level of deliciousness," Mr. Truong shared.

He also stated that only about one-third of the hairy crabs sold on the market are "full of roe," while the majority are of the 3 or 4-pack varieties with little or no roe. These varieties are often imported into Vietnam through unofficial channels and are becoming increasingly common in the market.

Consumers have also noticed this, reporting that the cheaper hairy crabs this year are of lower quality. Many are less meaty and have significantly less roe than in previous years, somewhat diminishing the culinary experience of this crab dish, which was once considered delicious and luxurious.

According to traders, October and November are the best months for hairy crabs. From December onwards, the quality gradually declines, and the amount of roe is no longer as abundant as during the peak season. In China, hairy crab is a delicacy that generates billions of dollars in revenue annually, with restaurant prices reaching 4-8 million VND per kilogram.

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