2024, Volume 27, Paper 13
ISSN: 2209-6612

How has China’s Ban on Australian Lobster Imports Impacted the Value Chain of the Rock Lobster Industry?

Robert Beckworth – Undergraduate student, University of Melbourne

Abstract

China’s ban on Australia’s lobster imports during 2020 to 2024 has significantly disrupted the Australian rock lobster industry. This paper examines the immediate and long-term effects of the trade ban on the lobster farmers and other parties in the value chain. Rock lobster has been one of the major seafood export industries for Australia, currently the second largest seafood export; only slightly less than salmonoids. Recently China and Australia have reached an agreement for China to lift the ban on Australian rock lobsters by the end of 2024, ending four years of trade restrictions. This is very good news for the industry, coming at a great time aligning with the Chinese New Year in 2025.

Key words: Australian lobster industry, trade ban, value chain, China-Australia trade relations

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