Frozen king crabs are about to become scarcer in China. Concerns that frozen foods carry coronavirus is triggering food import bans. Structural changes in the local food industry are contributing to the risk of shortages and price rises.
China has suspended imports from more than 100 food companies in 21 countries where infections have been reported. Some cities have banned sales of imported meat altogether. Supermarkets have started separating imported foods from local products.
The curbs are accompanied by the tendency of anxious shoppers to avoid foreign food even when it is available. This has led to a decline in seafood imports, down nearly a third in December, and is accelerating earlier declines due to lockdowns.
Prices of key foods were already on the rise because of outbreaks of African swine fever. The world’s food price index reached its highest level since December 2014 late last year, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Pork, rice and…