Snow crab legs: Once upon a time vip goods poured into Vietnamese markets, cheaper than ever

No longer expensive prices, no longer scarce as before, on this occasion snow crab legs landed in the ‘web market’ with unprecedented cheap prices. Vietnamese housewives also take advantage of buying large quantities to eat.
Like the Alaskan king crab, Australian crab, snow crab and snow crab legs have been imported to Vietnam for several years now. Accordingly, 1kg of live snow crab (swimming crab) costs up to 1.5-2 million VND/kg, while the price of snow crab legs also fluctuates around 600,000-850,000 VND/kg depending on the time.

Not to mention, the time when snow crab legs are imported to Vietnam, the quantity of goods is scarce, so buyers often have to order a few days or a week in advance. However, these days, frozen Canadian snow crab legs are being sold in abundance at unprecedented prices. The sellers advertise, this type of crab legs is the leg plus body part from the snow crab. The weight of crab legs usually ranges from 3-4 clusters of legs/kg with prices ranging from 300,000 to 380,000 VND/kg. Frozen snow crab legs are being sold in the market (photo: NVCC) Because the price is cheaper than Vietnamese dong crabs, on this occasion, snow crab legs are favored by housewives, and some people even buy a whole 5kg box to be charged wholesale. Ms. Hoang Ngoc Anh from Kim Nguu (Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi) said that she has never been able to buy snow crab legs at such low prices as on this occasion. According to Anh, the long and big snow crab legs are the most delicious part of this crab. Remove the outer shell, the inside of the snow crab’s leg is full of white meat and has a sweet, chewy taste. Before, she had to buy it for nearly 800,000 VND/kg (4-5 foot clusters/kg), now it’s only 350,000 VND/kg (3 foot clusters/kg). “If this crab leg is roasted with tamarind, just cut it according to the leg joint or leave the roasted leg whole. And if to stir-fry pieces, make spring rolls, it’s easy to separate the meat inside because the crab legs are big,” she said. Her children quite like to eat crabs, so on this occasion, she often buys a whole 5kg carton, because buying a lot will be cheaper than buying individually by weight. Ms. Bui Le Phuong Thao in Phu Nhuan (HCMC) also said that recently, snow crab legs are not only cheap but also very easy to order. Imported snow crab legs are currently quite cheap (photo: NVCC) If before, if you want to enjoy steamed snow crab legs with salt and pepper, you usually have to order it at the marine store and then wait 2-3 days to have it. Now, eat as much as you want, order 30 minutes later, the crab legs have been delivered to your door. “Purchasing 1kg retail costs 400,000 VND, but buying 1 carton of 5 kg costs only 300,000 VND/kg, which is much cheaper than buying retail. Moreover, the store also offers free shipping,” she said. Talk to PV. VietNamNet, Mr. Dinh Cong Tuan – the focal point of selling imported snow crab legs in District 2 (HCMC) – shared, the supply is abundant, the imported goods to Vietnam are many, so the price has dropped sharply. He is retailing snow crab legs with 3 clusters of legs/kg for 420,000 VND/kg, and wholesales 1 carton of 5 kg for 300,000 VND/kg. According to him, snow crab legs are extremely popular because not only restaurants and eateries buy for processing, but retail customers also buy a lot to eat. Like today, both wholesale and retail increased dramatically, he consumed nearly 4 quintals of crab legs. If calculated by week, the amount of crab legs sold from 1-1.5 tons. Imported crab legs are being bought by housewives (photo: NVCC) Ms. Pham Thuy Lien – wholesaler of imported seafood in Phu Nhuan (HCMC) said that there are two types of snow crabs imported into Vietnam, which are from Japan and Canada. However, seafood traders like her often choose goods imported from Canada because they have good prices and the supply is also more abundant than Japanese goods. In particular, compared to the expensive imported whole, snow crab legs are much cheaper. Compared to other types of crab legs, snow crab legs are very cheap, even cheaper than Vietnamese crab legs. In Canada, fresh snow crabs after being caught on the shore will be split in half, including the crab legs and half of the body (legs) stored at -18 degrees in accordance with the standards to keep the sweetness and aroma of the crab meat. Imported goods will be packed in cartons weighing 5kg. On this occasion, affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, many restaurants and shops were closed, so in addition to wholesale, she also “tears” retail goods. Fortunately, this time the price of crab legs cooled down, people bought more to eat. Therefore, the amount of crabs consumed per day is still increasing quite strongly. Accordingly, the batch of 5 quintal crab legs imported last week, so far, only has about 15 boxes left, Ms. Lien said.