Why the price of abalone skyrocketed to explore the reason for the massive reduction of abalone production in Laoshan Mountain

After the downturn of abalone in 2013, many aquaculture enterprises left the market because of losing money, and some enterprises reduced the scale of abalone farming, resulting in a change in the relationship between supply and demand.

On December 16, after the last truckload of commercial abalone was shipped away from the base in Changhai County, Liaoning Province, Zhao Yanbo seemed to have some unfinished business. "this year, the price of abalone is considerable and sales are tight. With more than 10 days to go before New Year's Day, our company's live abalone has sold out. If only there could be more live abalone. " As the secretary of the chairman of Dalian Ecological Miao Industry Co., Ltd., Zhao Yanbo certainly hopes that the company's performance will go up to the next level.

"I have been in the abalone business for more than 20 years, and the price of abalone is the highest this year, especially in late May this year, when the price of abalone hit a record." Wang Rong, general manager of an abalone wholesale distribution company in Dalian, said that it is initially expected that there will not be much room for abalone price reduction in the next year or so.

The rare market of "grabbing goods"

"in my more than 20 years of business, abalone is the most expensive this year. At present, the wholesale price of Dalian abalone with 6 heads is 125 yuan per jin, and the retail price is about 130 yuan; the wholesale price of 10 heads is about 90 yuan, and the retail price is 95 yuan ~ 100 yuan. In the same period last year, the wholesale price of six heads of Dalian abalone is 90 yuan, the retail price is about 100 yuan, and the wholesale price of 10 heads is 75 yuan, and the retail price is about 85 yuan. " Mr Wang said it was roughly estimated that the current price of abalone was up about 30 per cent year-on-year.

In fact, it is not the highest price of abalone this year. In late May this year, abalone reached an 'all-time high'. At that time, the wholesale price of abalone with six heads was 225 yuan per catty, and the retail price jumped to 240 yuan per catty. The wholesale price of abalone with 10 heads was as high as 140 yuan per catty. " Wang Rong said that at that time, abalone was a veritable "noble ingredient".

The price of abalone is soaring, but sales are still tight. "now, the company has sold out of live abalone. Fortunately, we have also made some deeply processed abalone products, which will become hot sellers before the Spring Festival." Zhao Yanbo said that for many abalone farming enterprises, "the goods are not enough to sell" is currently a "happy worry".

"at present, our company's abalone products are also sold out." Shi Minjun, general manager of a Dalian aquatic products company, said that although the price of abalone is high this year, there is no worry about selling abalone at all. Some wholesalers are worried that they will not be able to grab the supply of goods, and even go directly to the islands to get the goods.

According to industry insiders, the price of abalone hit rock bottom from 2013 to 2014, which is in sharp contrast to that of this year. "at that time, the wholesale price of six heads of abalone was only 40 yuan per jin, while the wholesale price of 10 heads was about 30 yuan per jin." Shi Minjun said with emotion that taking 10 small abalone as an example, one abalone sells for only 3 yuan.

"if you compare the market in late May this year with that from 2013 to 2014, then the price of abalone has soared by four to five times." Wang Rong said that behind the jump of the price curve from trough to peak, there are many joys and sorrows of abalone farming enterprises and dealers.

The gift channel is declining, why is the price skyrocketing?

Two or three years ago, why did the price of abalone, which was once popular in the popular seafood market, soar this year? "after the abalone downturn in 2013, many aquaculture companies left the market because of losses, while others scaled back the scale of abalone farming, which reduced the total amount of abalone farming, which led to changes in the relationship between supply and demand." Zhao Yanbo said that in addition, in the past year or two, although high-end gift channels gradually declined, but the rise of mass consumption, the demand for abalone is more exuberant.

"now, many aquaculture enterprises in Liaoning, Dalian, Shandong, Fujian and other places have adopted the way of 'north-south exchange' to raise abalone. Usually, abalone is cultured in Liaoning, Dalian, Shandong and other places from mid-May to early December, and in Fujian and other southern regions from early December to early May of the following year. This' north-south exchange 'culture method can enable abalone to avoid the severe cold in the north and the heat in the south, thus improving the survival rate of abalone culture, especially during the culture period in Dalian, the quality and taste of abalone have also been greatly improved. " Shi Minjun said that using this culture method, it usually takes 18 to 24 months from abalone seedlings with a diameter of about 2.8 centimeters to finished abalone. For the commercial abalone grown in 18 months, the culture cost of its 10 head specifications is 40 ~ 45 yuan per jin, which will lose money if it is lower than this cost line. From 2013 to 2014, the vast majority of abalone farmers lost money, which greatly reduced the total amount of abalone farming, which eventually led to the situation that abalone supply fell short of demand and prices soared this year.

The price of abalone gradually rose after March 2015, followed by a period of moderate rise. But since the beginning of this year, the abalone market with the imbalance between supply and demand has finally raised the price, so that the price of abalone which once 'fell into the mortal world' skyrocketed and returned to the aristocratic food camp. " Wang Rong said that at present, the demand for small and medium-sized abalone with 6 to 10 heads is the greatest and the most scarce.

"according to the analysis of the development cycle of abalone from 18 months to 24 months, it is estimated that there will be little room for abalone prices to decline before 2018." Shi Minjun said that in November this year, the company invested 4 million yuan to put in 4 million abalone fry. The abalone fry will go through 1.5-2 "north-south exchanges" between the company's base in Ningde City, Fujian Province and Changhai County base in Liaoning Province. It is not expected to be sold until around May 2018.

In addition, according to senior industry insiders, at present, domestic abalone culture is mainly concentrated in Fujian, and its output accounts for more than 80%. There are more than 30 enterprises and self-employed abalone farmers in Dalian, and their breeding bases in the north are mainly concentrated in Changhai County, Liaoning Province, Lushun, Jinshitan and Rongcheng, Shandong Province.

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