As a saying goes, "when the autumn winds blow, the crab roe grows fat." At the end of September, 300 kilograms of hairy crabs produced in Datong Lake, Yiyang, were shipped for export to Cambodia after passing on-site inspection and quarantine by the Yiyang Customs Authority. This marks Hunan's first export of hairy crabs in this year's production season.
  
At the registered aquaculture farm for outbound aquatic animals in Datonghu District, workers sort, weigh, and tie up the fresh hairy crabs before packing them in boxes with ice packs for low-temperature transport. The packaged crabs are then neatly stacked, awaiting shipment. From harvesting, export declaration, to air shipment, this batch of hairy crabs can reach overseas markets as soon as the next day.
 
"The hairy crabs exported this time are large, with female crabs weighing 2.5 to 4 liang (125–200 g) and male crabs 3.5 to 5 liang (175–250 g). Temperature-controlled cold-chain logistics are used throughout transportation," said Peng Qi, business manager of the Hunan Datong Lake Jinda Special Aquatic Products Co., Ltd. This year, the Southeast Asian market has grown relatively quickly, and hairy crab prices are basically stable compared with previous years, with profit margins 10% to 20% higher than in the domestic market.
 
Yiyang is one of Hunan's main sources for aquatic animal exports. Relying on Datong Lake's unique "aquatic plants + hairy crabs" ecological farming model, the locally cultivated hairy crabs are sought-after among consumers for their tender texture and sweet, fresh flavor. Exports of Datong Lake hairy crabs have remained stable for many years, enjoying a high reputation in overseas markets.

As the export peak season begins, timeliness is particularly critical for hairy crabs as fresh agricultural products. The Yiyang Customs Authority has opened a "green channel" for fresh and perishable products, implementing convenient clearance measures such as round-the-clock appointments, inspection upon arrival, and rapid release. Countries and regions differ in their testing priorities and requirements for hairy crabs, and customs adjusts its monitoring priorities accordingly to meet the needs of export destinations.

According to the Changsha Customs Authority data, Hunan exported a total of 68.38 million CNY worth of aquatic products in the first eight months, up 15.4% year on year.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan