Frozen Snow Crab / Zuwaigani (Echizen / Matsuba)

Zuwaigani (ズワイガニ) — Echizen-gani / Matsuba-gani · Sea of Japan — Echizen (Fukui), Matsuba (Tottori/San'in), Kano (Hyogo) branded snow crab
Meat & Seafood Other Fish Frozen Growing export

Japanese snow crab from the Sea of Japan carries regional brand tags (Echizen-gani, Matsuba-gani) tied to the landing port and a yellow ID tag system. It is prized for sweet, delicate meat and is a winter luxury. Branded Japan-origin snow crab is exported boiled-frozen to high-end Asian markets where it competes against Russian/North American snow crab on provenance. Shipped frozen.

The supplierRegional fishery coops landing tagged branded snow crab; small-lot luxury seafood exporters.
Why it sells abroadProvenance-tagged Japan-origin snow crab (Echizen/Matsuba); winter luxury

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsHACCP processing (confirmed: mandatory in Japan). Port-of-landing brand tags are real for branded snow crab (Echizen-gani yellow tag, Matsuba-gani tags) (confirmed practice). EU IUU catch certificate required for EU-bound consignments (confirmed regulatory framework for EU imports, applies if EU-bound). No producer-specific eco/MSC cert verified for these branded crabs.
Pack formatsWhole boiled-frozen crab; leg/claw sections; carton packs.
Shelf lifeFrozen ~12 months.
StorageFrozen -18C or below.
Minimum orderTypical: by carton (10-20 kg)
Lead timeTypical: 2-4 weeks (seasonal Nov-Mar)
CapacityTypical: quota- and season-constrained
Container loadTypical: LCL or part-reefer for luxury volumes
PricingTypical: $40-120/kg depending on size/brand
OEM / private labelLimited; mainly branded whole/section.
Wholesale & MOQBoiled-frozen -18C; whole crab or sections; MOQ varies, often by carton
Key exporters & distributorsSan'in/Hokuriku seafood traders, Maruha Nichiro, regional coops
Export regulationCrab harvest under TAC/seasonal closures; processors should hold HACCP; importing-country sanitary registration may apply (EU requires approved-establishment listing & catch certificate for IUU). Permitted broadly; HS 0306 (crab) / 1605 (prepared crab).
Market demandStrong winter gift/restaurant demand in HK/SG/TW
How to source itSea-of-Japan coastal coops (Fukui/Tottori/Hyogo) -> seafood exporter -> Asian importer.
Verified sourceshttps://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies (HACCP mandatory in Japan 2020); EU IUU Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 catch-certificate requirement for EU-bound seafood
MakerJapan Sea coastal fishery coops & crab processors (Fukui, Tottori, Hyogo)
OriginSea of Japan — Echizen (Fukui), Matsuba (Tottori/San'in), Kano (Hyogo) branded snow crab
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Other Fish
Available inHK, SG, TW +2 more
HandlingFrozen
Price tierPremium
ChannelFoodservice
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0306 / 1605
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.