Frozen Unagi Kabayaki (Grilled Eel)

Unagi Kabayaki (うなぎ蒲焼) · Japan (A. japonica; Kagoshima, Aichi, Miyazaki aquaculture)
Meat & Seafood Eel Frozen Growing export

Soy-tare grilled eel, sold frozen as ready-to-heat fillets — the dominant form eel is traded in. Genuine Japan-origin A. japonica kabayaki is a premium subset; most globally traded 'Japanese-style' unagi is actually Chinese-farmed. Closed-cycle breeding is advancing in Japan but not yet commercial.

The supplierJapanese eel processors handling Japan-origin A. japonica (Kagoshima/Aichi/Miyazaki aquaculture). Premium Japan-origin subset commands a quality premium over Chinese unagi; integrated farm-to-kabayaki lines with traceability.
Why it sells abroadAuthentic Japan-origin A. japonica kabayaki with traditional tare and traceability — the premium tier vs commodity Chinese eel.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsCITES/regulatory exposure confirmed: Anguilla japonica is IUCN Red-Listed (2014) and the subject of an active CITES Appendix II proposal (2025); glass-eel sourcing is increasingly regulated, and Kagoshima/Miyazaki/Kumamoto restrict wild silver-eel capture. HACCP / FSSC 22000 / antibiotic-residue testing / destination health certificate: typical at major plants but not publicly verified per-maker for this generic listing.
Pack formatsPre-grilled tare-glazed fillets, individually vac-pac (one fillet/pack) with sauce sachet; master cartons of 20-50 packs, frozen.
Shelf lifeFrozen: ~12 months at -18°C or below (typical).
StorageFrozen -18°C or below.
Minimum orderTypical: by carton to FCL reefer.
Lead timeTypical: 2-4 weeks incl. health certificate + residue testing.
CapacityTypical: constrained for Japan-origin (limited glass-eel/aquaculture supply); more available for mixed-origin.
Container loadTypical: frozen reefer 20ft/40ft.
PricingEstimate: premium for Japan-origin — Typical $20-50/kg FOB (well above Chinese unagi).
OEM / private labelPrivate-label/processing available (portioning, sauce/glaze spec, retail packs).
Wholesale & MOQFrozen vacuum-packed kabayaki fillets, reefer container or air; foodservice and Asian/US retail; species/CITES documentation gates the deal.
Key exporters & distributorsJapanese eel processors, specialist seafood importers
Export regulationCITES is the defining risk: European eel is Appendix II (EU export ban since 2011) and a 2025 EU/Panama/Honduras proposal would list ALL 17 Anguilla species (opposed by Japan). A. japonica is IUCN Endangered. Species mislabelling is rampant (a third of EU eel products mislabelled) so accurate species + provenance declaration is critical. Standard processed-fish controls (approved establishment, health cert) also apply.
Market demandJapanese-restaurant HORECA + premium retail in US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan (unadon/sushi).
How to source itJapanese eel processors (Kagoshima/Aichi/Miyazaki) → seafood exporters; JETRO; FOODEX JAPAN, Seafood Expo.
Verified sourceshttps://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/japan-looks-at-alternatives-after-eel-red-listed; https://www.agtechnavigator.com/Article/2025/10/27/japan-disputes-cites-rationale-for-regulating-all-eel-species-over-visual-similarities/
MakerJapanese eel processors (premium Japan-origin subset)
OriginJapan (A. japonica; Kagoshima, Aichi, Miyazaki aquaculture)
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Eel
Available inUS, HK, SG, TW
HandlingFrozen
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0303 / 1604
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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.