Thousands of workers from crab wholesale centers from Labutta Township are now out of their jobs after China suspended its crab imports from Myanmar due to the spread of novel coronavirus in China. 

The suspension of crab exports to China has huge impacts on workers and the crab industry in the township. Crab is one of the major exports of Labutta Township. It may have an impact on those involved in the whole industry. The price of crab declined to around Ks5,000 per kilo from around Ks 15,000 per kilo after China has stopped importing crabs from Myanmar. 

U Win Naing, Chair of the Labutta Crab Entrepreneurs Association said: “Due to the closure of border gates, we cannot ship crabs to China. We mainly export crabs to China. There are 130 crab wholesale centers in Labutta.”

Aung Moe Win, Chair of Labutta Township Health Supportive Committee said: “Labutta’s major product is paddy. The region has to rely on the fishing industry. Farmers face losses as the harvest cost  cannot cover paddy harvesting costs. Around 400 people are employed in the crab industry. The people in the villages including the farmers are engaging in crab fishing. Labutta Township’s business is going to stop.”

Labutta Township exports more than ten tons of crabs to China every day. Most people in the rural areas have to rely only on crab fishing.