Scallops to overcome the virus
For scallop producers in Hokkaido, the harvest season runs from June to October. However, since the authorities started imposing travel restrictions due to Covid-19, regional exporters were unable to fly perishables directly to Hong Kong, the top importer of Japanese agricultural and marine products, which saw overall seafood imports increase by 39% in 2019 to EUR 13.3 billion. So, in April 2020, Japan saw its yoy export of seafood fall from EUR 190.3 to EUR 123.8 million.
Now, DHL Global Forwarding has launched a thrice-weekly charter from Sapporo Chitose to Hong Kong, the only direct air freight service from the island's main airport to the gateway to China since airlines halted international ops. The first chartered flight in June shipped up to 29 t of scallops and 600 kg of sea cucumber. (ah)