China's Japanese eel prices fall over 50% year-on-year in October, with north-south market divergence

Pond-side prices and wholesale market quotes for October 22, 2026 show that prices for farmed and traded Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) in China have fallen sharply compared with the same period last year. The October average prices in the four major producing regions of South China, Central China, East China and North China all fell by more than 50% year on year, with some categories down more than 60%; compared with September, the month-on-month adjustment range narrowed significantly, and daily prices in East China and North China even rebounded slightly on October 22.

At the pond-side farm level, the October average prices of the 3P specification and standard table eel (written as caiman in the table) fell both month on month and year on year.

In South China, the October average price of the 3P specification was 36,700 yuan per tonne (US$5,147), down 13.03% month on month (a decrease of 5,500 yuan, or US$771), and down 63.98% year on year (a decrease of 65,200 yuan, or US$9,144), compared with 101,900 yuan per tonne (US$14,292) in October 2025. The October average price of table eel in the same region was 38,800 yuan per tonne (US$5,442), down 11.21% month on month and 60.69% year on year, compared with 98,700 yuan per tonne (US$13,843) a year earlier. South China daily pond-side prices on October 22: 3P was 34,600 yuan per tonne (US$4,853), and table eel was 36,800 yuan per tonne (US$5,161), both trending downward.

In Central China, the October average price of the 3P specification was 40,000 yuan per tonne (US$5,610), down 6.54% month on month and 60.47% year on year; table eel was 42,000 yuan per tonne (US$5,891), down 5.83% month on month and 53.02% year on year. Central China daily pond-side prices on October 22: 3P was 36,800 yuan per tonne (US$5,161), and table eel was 39,200 yuan per tonne (US$5,498).

Daily pond-side prices in East China and North China rebounded slightly on October 22, with 3P at 39,200 yuan per tonne (US$5,498) and 39,600 yuan per tonne (US$5,554), respectively. However, the October monthly average prices still fell sharply year on year: East China was 40,700 yuan per tonne (US$5,708), compared with 108,600 yuan per tonne (US$15,231) in October 2025, down 62.52% year on year; North China was 40,900 yuan per tonne (US$5,736), compared with 111,300 yuan per tonne (US$15,610) in October 2025, down 63.25% year on year.

Wholesale markets in major cities, quoted per kilogram, also confirmed this round of adjustment.

Guangzhou: the October average price of the 3P specification was 43.46 yuan per kg (US$6.10, equivalent to 21.73 yuan per jin), down 8.31% month on month and 60.90% year on year, compared with 111.14 yuan per kg (US$15.59, 55.57 yuan per jin) in October 2025. The average price of the 1 to 1.5 jin (500 to 750 g) specification was 46.96 yuan per kg (US$6.59, 23.48 yuan per jin), down 57.80% year on year. Daily quotes on October 22: 3P was 37.80 yuan per kg (US$5.30), and commercial table eel was 41.60 yuan per kg (US$5.83).

Wuhan: the October average price of the 3P specification was 43.64 yuan per kg (US$6.12, 21.82 yuan per jin), down 60.44% year on year. The average price of 500 to 750 g table eel was 50.76 yuan per kg (US$7.12, 25.38 yuan per jin), down 52.79% from October 2025. Wholesale prices that day: 3P was 40.20 yuan per kg (US$5.64), and medium specification was 47.00 yuan per kg (US$6.59).

Shanghai: the October average price of the 3P specification was 44.36 yuan per kg (US$6.22, 22.18 yuan per jin), down 62.55% from 118.44 yuan per kg (US$16.61, 59.22 yuan per jin) in 2025. The 500 to 750 g specification was 48.88 yuan per kg (US$6.86, 24.44 yuan per jin), down 54.15%. Daily settlement prices edged up to 42.80 yuan per kg (US$6.00) and 46.40 yuan per kg (US$6.51).

Beijing: the October average price of the 3P specification was 44.60 yuan per kg (US$6.26, 22.30 yuan per jin), down 63.23% year on year. The 500 to 750 g specification, however, rose sharply by 27.85% month on month, with an October average price of 70.70 yuan per kg (US$9.92, 35.35 yuan per jin), but was still 34.54% lower than 108.00 yuan per kg (US$15.15) in October 2025. Beijing daily prices on October 22: 3P was 43.20 yuan per kg (US$6.06), and medium specification was 50.20 yuan per kg (US$7.04).

In the seedling segment, on October 22, 2026, the price of live glass eels and young eels with a body length of more than 15 cm held steady at 5.00 yuan per fish (US$0.70). On a national weighted basis, the average price of the 3P specification that day was 41.00 yuan per kg (US$5.75, 20.50 yuan per jin), and the 1 to 1.5 jin specification was 46.30 yuan per kg (US$6.49, 23.15 yuan per jin).