(ECNS) — Live Chinese mitten crabs raised in saline-alkali waters in Helan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport late Wednesday, marking the first time the region has exported live mitten crabs to Malaysia.
The shipment was part of an order totaling 5,000 kilograms (about 11,000 pounds), placed with Helan County companies that recently qualified to export aquatic products. The first batch was sent to Malaysia for inspection, with the remaining order to be shipped in batches.
The crabs are raised in saline-alkali waters in the Yellow River irrigation area. Local producers said the distinctive water and soil conditions contribute to the crabs’ meat quality and allow them to reach the market earlier than crabs from southern China.
To meet the requirements for exporting live crabs, Yinchuan Customs provided guidance on export registration and quality control. During shipment, it opened a dedicated channel for fresh agricultural products and prioritized sampling, testing and customs clearance.
The company has also established procedures to keep the crabs alive during transport. After being cleaned, the crabs are packed with ice bottles and transported in an air-cargo cold chain maintained at 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). The shipment passed Malaysia’s import quarantine inspection.
The exported crabs were produced at an 86.7-hectare (about 214-acre) breeding base in Dingyi Village, Changxin Township, Helan County, which has an annual output capacity of 143 metric tons.
The company said the export price was 67 yuan (about $10.06) per 500 grams (about 1.1 pounds), about 20 yuan higher than that of domestic products of comparable specifications.
(By Tang Yuxian)