US NMFS data show that in the first 11 months of 2016, US lobster exports amounted to 51,135 tons, with an export value of US$681.5 million, up 3% and 7% respectively. About 90% of the exported lobsters are fresh products, about 46,064 tons, valued at $578.8 million, up 10% and 14% year-on-year respectively. Most of the live lobsters were exported to Canada with an export volume of 30,381 tons, valued at $319.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 8%.

    In the first 11 months of last year, US fresh lobster exports to China surged 85% to 4,228 tons, and exports reached US$71.2 million, a year-on-year increase of 102%. NMFS believes that China's demand for US lobsters may change the future US lobster export market.

    In addition, US lobster exports to other countries and regions are as follows:

    - Italy: The export volume is 2,685 tons, valued at 43.4 million US dollars, an increase of 4% and 3% year-on-year;

    - Spain: Export volume of 1995 tons, valued at 34.8 million US dollars, an increase of 3% and 10%;

    -Hong Kong: The export volume is 1,500 tons, valued at US$26.8 million, an increase of 37% and 61% year-on-year;

    - France: Exports of 1156 tons, valued at $17.5 million, an increase of 13% and 14% year-on-year.

    In the first 11 months of 2016, the United States imported 52,416 tons of lobsters, valued at 1.18 billion US dollars, down 4% and 3% respectively. The entire live lobster imported from Canada accounted for 42% of the imported variety, with an import volume of 2,1955 tons, valued at $304.6 million, a year-on-year decrease of 14% and 13% respectively. Canada's frozen lobster imports totaled 13,137 tons, valued at $388.4 million, a year-on-year decline of about 4%.