Top Lobster Countries
United States by far World’s Largest Importer of Lobster Products
To maintain leadership in international trade, top lobster countries must satisfy fast-growing demand for frozen seafood products.
About 45% of world lobster exports in 2004 were frozen. In second place were shipments of fresh or chilled lobster (29%) followed by global deliveries of live lobster (20%) and canned products (6%).
Hotels and restaurants around the world are key drivers for increasing global sales of the frozen shellfish specialty.
Biggest Producing Nations
For over 10 years, world lobster production has been flat at around 240,000 metric tons annually. Listed below are the leading lobster producing nations in 2004.
- Canada … 46,600 metric tons (19.5% of global lobster production)
- United States … 42,900 mt (17.9%)
- United Kingdom … 33,800 mt (14.2%)
- Australia … 19,900 mt (8.3%)
- Bahamas … 9,300 mt (3.9%)
- Brazil … 7,900 mt (3.3%)
- Ireland … 7,500 mt (3.1%)
- Indonesia … 7,100 mt (3.0%)
- Cuba … 6,800 mt (2.9%)
- France … 5,600 mt (2.3%).
Leading Exporters
World lobster exports have increased in value by 57% to $2.2 billion in 2004 from US$1.4 billion in 1997. Canada, Australia and the U.S. sold about 63% of total lobster exports in 2004.
- Canada … US$703.2 million (32.0% of global lobster exports)
- Australia … $342.2 million (15.6%)
- United States … $332.8 million (15.1%)
- Bahamas … $97.3 million (4.4%)
- Brazil … $84.8 million (3.9%)
- Cuba … $65.3 million (3.0%)
- New Zealand … $62.8 million (2.9%).
Canadian lobsters are smaller than the legal size requirements that the U.S. government imposes on American lobster producers. Smaller lobsters translates into a Canadian trade advantage: international markets like Japan sell more lobster parts by the piece (including tails and pincers) than would be possible with larger, whole lobsters.
World's Largest Importer
Responsible for almost one half of global lobster imports, the U.S. remains the world’s largest importer of lobster goods. Listed below are other leading nations that import the shellfish product known for turning bright red when cooked.
- United States ... US$972.4 million (46.5% of global lobster exports)
- Japan ... $169.9 million (8.1%)
- France ... $163.7 million (7.8%)
- China ... $163.7 million (7.7%)
- Canada ... $151.3 million (7.2%)
- Spain ... $111.2 million (5.2%)
- Italy ... $92.6 million (4.4%).
Canada imports some 48% of all American lobster shipments. After Canadian importers process these lobsters into frozen, chilled or canned products, the U.S. then imports the Canadian-processed American lobster meat. Canada provides about 60% of total American lobster imports.
References
This article presents independent calculations and insights based on charts and narrative in Joel Chetrick’s presentation ‘Trends in World Lobster Production, Imports and Exports’ (US Department of Agriculture, Forest & Fishery Products Division, August 2006).
