从“猪饲料”到“夜宵之王”，如今价格又腰斩：谁杀死了小龙虾的巨头梦？

Core Viewpoint - The price of crayfish has experienced a dramatic decline, with wholesale prices dropping significantly from their initial levels, despite a surge in demand for crayfish products [2][4][6]. Group 1: Price Decline - The wholesale price of crayfish has fallen from approximately 30 yuan per jin to around 13 yuan per jin, with medium-sized crayfish dropping from 40 yuan to about 17 yuan, and large crayfish from 58 yuan to around 32 yuan [2]. - In Hubei's Qianjiang, the price of small crayfish has plummeted to around 10 yuan, while medium-sized crayfish are priced between 12-14 yuan [4]. - Despite the price drop, the demand for fresh crayfish has surged, with sales increasing by 606% on e-commerce platforms [6]. Group 2: Industry Overview - The crayfish industry has seen a decline in the number of registered companies, with a 5.2% decrease year-on-year, totaling 1,442 registered companies as of September 2024 [6]. - The total number of crayfish-related enterprises has decreased by 3.2% year-on-year, with 17,900 companies currently in operation [6]. - The crayfish industry has not produced a dominant player despite its large market size, primarily due to low entry barriers leading to intense competition [6]. Group 3: Supply and Demand Imbalance - The crayfish farming area reached 28 million mu in 2022, with production hitting 289.07 million tons, a 9.76% increase from 2021 [19]. - By 2023, the farming area surpassed 29 million mu, with annual production reaching 3 million tons [19]. - The oversupply during peak seasons has led to downward pressure on prices, despite high consumer prices in first-tier cities [19][21]. Group 4: Challenges in Standardization - The crayfish industry lacks high levels of organization and standardization, with varying farming methods leading to inconsistent quality [23]. - The high loss rate during transportation and storage, estimated at 20%-30%, further complicates the industry's operational challenges [25]. - Fixed costs such as rent and labor remain high, putting significant pressure on crayfish restaurant operators [25]. Group 5: Competition from Pre-prepared Foods - The emergence of pre-prepared crayfish products has intensified competition for traditional crayfish restaurants [28]. - Pre-prepared crayfish can be cooked and packaged near production sites, reducing costs and extending the product's shelf life [28]. - While traditional live crayfish restaurants still dominate the market, the trend towards pre-prepared options may reshape the industry landscape [29].