Hongkongers will be able to enjoy cheaper, fresher hairy crabs following the resumption of direct imports of the seasonal delicacy from mainland China after six years, with sellers and industry representatives expecting a jump in demand and sales.

The Environment and Ecology Bureau said on Saturday that more directly imported hairy crabs were expected to enter Hong Kong soon after the first two batches of 300kg in total had been shipped to the city from Jiangsu province, home to some of the mainland’s most prized products, on Thursday and Friday.

Local sellers welcomed the resumption of direct cross-border imports, with some saying the move would help reduce their costs and boost sales this season.

Fredrick Lui Kwok-wai, director of Kam Kee Seafood in Kowloon City, said that hairy crabs previously sold at his shop were exported from the mainland to countries such as Malaysia before being imported to Hong Kong.

He said that with direct shipping of the crabs to the city, he expected his costs to drop by at least 20 per cent, which would allow him to lower the prices of the delicacy to boost sales and attract more patrons.

“There is a difference in shipping cost between them being imported directly from Jiangsu and being flown to South Korea or Malaysia before being sent back to Hong Kong,” he said, adding that longer transit time also lowered the crabs’ survival rate.