Undercurrent News is excited to report the addition of new lobster trade pricing data to its pricing portal services.

Since nearly a week ago, subscribers have had access to the export prices being offered by one large Atlantic Canada-based exporter of live North American lobster (Homarus americanus) to Shanghai, China, and Paris, France. The prices are for all sizes, from "small chix" (440 to 510 grams) to 4 to 6 pounders (1,800g and above), and sorted into 18 interactive charts updated weekly.

Below, as an example, is a chart showing recent price fluctuations in "quarters" sent to Paris and Shanghai. Quarters is the more often used expression to describe lobsters that are 1.23-1.48 pounds (560-670g). It is the most common size of hard-shell lobster available.

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As reported by Undercurrent and illustrated in these charts, live lobster export prices have climbed dramatically in just the past five weeks. They are promising to go even higher, thanks in part to the end of the spring season.

Lobster pricing data from Rungis, too

In another positive development for premium subscribers, Undercurrent also has added new pricing data from France's Rungis International Market, or the Marche International (MIN) de Rungis in French. That includes prices for live lobsters from Canada, Brittany (Bretagne), in Northern France, and Northern Europe (Ireland and the UK).

MIN de Rungis is the principal wholesale market of Paris and mainly deals in food and horticultural products, with a large seafood section. With 327 hectares of space, it is the second-largest wholesale food market in the world after Central de Abasto in Mexico City.

France's Rungis International Market. Photograph by Philippe Roy at Atlas Obscura.

The prices at MIN de Rungis do not yet show the same dramatic pattern as reported above.

For weeks 26 to 29 (June 24-July 7), the average sale price for Canadian live Homarus americanus lobsters (400-600 grams) has hovered around €26.00 ($28.33) per kilogram, the lowest rate in six years. Converting the price to a USD/lb rate, as Undercurrent's tools allow, shows a slight increase, from $11.17/lb to $11.37/lb.

Prices for live Homarus gammarus lobsters from Brittany and Northern Europe (Ireland and the UK) trade above Canadian lobster prices, which have followed a similar trend, recently moving slightly upward from week to week.

Understanding these pricing dynamics is crucial for optimizing your procurement strategies and pricing models. With access to real-time data from Undercurrent, you can stay ahead of market trends and make informed decisions to enhance your business operations.