Warm weather in recent years and increased demand have drastically pushed up the price of Chinese dried seafood products that are popular during winter in China.
Citing a recent television show, Sin Chew Daily reported that prices of popular products such as fish maw have gone up by 40% and sea cucumber by 20%.
For fish maw, the standard grade costs 1,200 yuan (RM750) per 500g while the premium grade is at 5,000 yuan (RM3,124) per 500g.
Quoting a business operator from Dalian in Liaoning province, he said sea cucumber sales tripled this year while catch frequency rose at some fish centres.
In Beijing, dried sea cucumber is priced up to about 5,000 yuan (RM3,108) per 500g.
Another business owner said the production of sea cucumber mainly found in Liaoning and Shandong dropped in recent years due to global warming while the general demand for supplemental food has risen by 50%.
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