Squid "Small Ears" Sell Booming Against the Trend: Multiple Factors Drive Up Market Demand

Currently, China’s squid market shows a "cold-hot divergence": the overall market is weak, yet squid "small ears" have seen a surge in sales and faster delivery, becoming a "hot commodity" in the market. This is mainly driven by the combination of four key factors.

1. Peru Supply Cutoff: Small-Sized Squid in Short Supply, Imported "Ears" Rely on Stockpiles

As one of the world’s major squid-producing regions, Peru has achieved a record-high total squid output this year. However, fishermen have focused on catching medium and large-sized giant squid (Dosidicus gigas), leaving small-sized squid almost in short supply — a situation that has led to a scarcity of raw materials for "small ears". At present, all imported squid "ears" in China depend on existing stockpiles, meaning "each sale reduces the stock". Short-term supply-demand imbalance has pushed up prices.

2. Changes in Import Structure: Fewer Pure Segmented Products, Tighter Supply

In previous years, China mainly imported segmented squid "ears". This year, however, imports are dominated by squid tubes with ears and cleaned whole squid. These products are already processed and finalized overseas, leading to a reduction in segmentation ratio. As a result, the supply of goods directly flowing into the "small ears" market has dropped sharply, further straining the supply chain.

3. Domestic Demand Picks Up: Drying Yards Start Operations, "Supply Falls Short of Demand"

Drying yards and squid ear processing plants in Shidao (Shandong) and Zhoushan (Zhejiang) have started operations intensively, triggering an outbreak of downstream demand. The limited stock of imported "small ears" has been quickly absorbed into the processing link, creating a situation where "supply falls short of demand".

4. Imported "Ears" Offer Good Cost-Effectiveness: Quality Is the Key

Imported squid "ears" boast high freshness, uniform specifications, and low processing loss. Although their unit price is slightly higher, their overall cost-effectiveness is better when considering comprehensive costs. In particular, they meet the high requirements for freshness and stability in export orders, making them the first choice for enterprises and accelerating sales.

In the short term, the supply of small-sized squid in Peru is unlikely to improve, and domestic demand for squid drying will remain steady. The tight supply situation of squid "small ears" may continue, making them a core highlight in the sluggish squid market.