The price of hairy crabs in Dongying, Shandong rises by 10 yuan per jin this year

The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and it is once again the peak sales season for Yellow River estuary hairy crabs. Many residents report that hairy crabs are generally more expensive this year than last year. Industry insiders say that compared with last year, the hairy crabs are still relatively small at this point this year, resulting in insufficient market supply. Hairy crabs of the same size are 10 yuan more expensive than last year, and male crabs of over 4 liang cost 120 yuan per jin.

"Hairy crabs of 3 liang male and 2 liang female cost about 70 yuan per jin, and those of 3.5 liang male and 2.5 liang female cost about 90 yuan per jin, which is 10 yuan more per jin than last year." Mr. Wang, who has sold hairy crabs for more than 20 years, said that because hairy crabs from the south have not yet fully grown and the local supply of hairy crabs is insufficient, prices this year are higher than last year. "Last year, 4-liang male hairy crabs were hard to sell; this year, there are none to buy even if you want them."

According to Mr. Wang, on his busiest days he can sell up to 500 jin. Based on sales in previous years, sales will increase further in the week before the Mid-Autumn Festival, reaching more than 3,000 jin on the busiest day. "Many people buy crabs now to give to relatives and friends. If you are buying them to eat yourself, it is better to wait until after the Mid-Autumn Festival. That is when the crabs are fattest, so if you want to eat fat crabs, you still have to wait."