Price changes drive demand for crab in US
The prices of crabs in the US have sustained a downward trend in the period 2023 to 2024. For example, by mid of 2023, the prices of US crabs had fallen by about 19%. According to a report by Circana, which scanned nationwide retail data on crabs’ sales during this period, US crabs were costing just 8 dollars a pound on average by June, 2023.
By April of 2024, the prices had fallen by about 30% from a similar period in 2023. As expected, these price changes have led to an increase in demand that has been stable for some time now.
But unlike in 2023 when the US crab market experienced volatility in prices, there has been relative crab price stability in 2024 which is expected to last till around May at the start of the US crab season. The price could then rise from June till the end of 2024 after stocks start to fall.
Current reports by Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) and Seafood News, put the retail price of US crabs at about $5.45 a pound on the lower side, by March, 2024.
Which type of crab can you buy, and what are the prices to expect?
Across the US crab market, you will find 5 major types of crabs. Each carries a different price and this is important to understand when shopping for crabs.
These are the different crabs and the corresponding average prices:
1. Dungeness Crab
Current retail price of fresh, whole dungeness crab in US: $ 5.9 per pound
The most abundant in the United States. It’s oval in shape and the color varies frm yellow to purple. Their claws have hooks, and this is the standout feature that distinguishes them from other types of crab.
In some years, the harvest for dungeness crab in the US easily surpasses 50 million pounds!
2. Snow Crab
Current retail price of snow crab clusters in US: $9.03 per pound
Medium-sized with smooth, rounded shells that are typically a light red or orange color. They have long, thin legs and four pairs of walking legs, as well as two claws. Their most distinguishing feature is a white patch on their abdomen, which is why they are called snow crab.
In the US, snow crab are manly found in Alaska.
3. Blue Crab
Current retail price of fresh blue crab in the US: $12.5 per pound
Just as the name suggests, these crab are known for their bright blue claws and olive green or brownish shell. The shell can reach up to 9 inches in width.
They have four pairs of walking legs and a pair of paddle-like swimming legs. Males and females are easily distinguished by their abdomens, known as the “apron.” The male’s apron is long and slender, resembling the Washington Monument. The mature female’s apron, on the other hand, is broad and rounded, similar to the dome of the US Capitol.
4. King Crab
Current retail price of whole king crab in the US: $13 per pound
The largest of them al, they have a spiky, reddish-brown shell that can grow up to 11 inches wide and a leg span of nearly 6 feet.
They have three pairs of walking legs and one pair of massive claws. The right claw is typically larger than the left.
5. Stone Crab
Current price of stone crab claws in the US: $35-$75 per pound
*Stone crab claws are normally sold in four sizes: medium, large, jumbo, and colossal. Medium size is the cheapest whereas colossal is the most expensive.
Stone crab have a spiky, reddish-brown shell that is adorned with gray spots and a tan underside. They stand out for their two claws, one noticeably larger than the other. The larger claw, often tipped in black, boasts exceptional strength. Stone crab are abundant in Florida.
Important to note that stone crab are mainly harvested for their claws. Once the claws are harvested, the crab are returned back to the waters.
If you are eager to try the most expensive, then you may want to go for either the Giant Spider Crab which can easily go for more than $12,000. You can also grab frozen Alaskan Red king crab, which is among the biggest crab in US waters weighing 28 pounds. It costs 180 dollars apiece while a leg pound goes for 34 dollars and above.
Because catching and processing crab takes chunks of time, crab meat will always be rather costly! So, grab the opportunity now when demand and pricing are enjoying stability.
