What Influences the Cost of King Crab?

King crab is known, and celebrated, for its meaty legs and claws. Consumers all over the world are interested in buying this delectable treat, which can put pressure on the limited supply. Price of king crab legs is partially determined by the size of allowable harvest. Quotas are often implemented and kept low to prevent overfishing. These sustainability measures are phenomenal for king crab populations, but does tend to keep the king crab legs price on the more expensive side. That said, there are a few ways to get the best price on King crab legs.

To start, we’ll share a crab leg cost comparison grid. This should give you a sense of how much you can expect to spend on your king crab leg order.

What Influences the Alaskan King Crab Legs Price Per Pound?

Demand from foreign buyers, specifically the Japanese market, can deeply influence king crab legs cost. Japanese buyers buy in bulk from Alaskan king crab fisheries, causing stress on the decreased supply for domestic buyers.

The location of where the crab is sourced can also influence king crab legs cost per pound. Alaskan king crabs, perhaps the most sought-after king crabs, are primarily caught in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Overnight shipping to different parts of the world by air in order to keep seafood fresh is more expensive than if the product travels by truck, ship, or train.

King crabs are enormous, and their size makes fishing for them incredibly dangerous. The assumed danger of the catch increases the Alaskan king crab legs market price to protect the people who fish for king crabs.

The Current Market Price for King Crab Legs

The time of year can influence king crab legs cost. Fishing for king crabs usually occurs sometime in the fall and ends in early winter, generally running from October through January. Investing in frozen crab legs can possibly reduce king crab legs cost, as frozen can sometimes be cheaper than fresh. It becomes a question of quality, and price for quality, for the consumer. Purchasing king crab can guarantee the customer access to king crab even when it is not in season.

Standard Costs for King Crab

Sizing for king crab is a little different. Instead of measuring king crab in “per pound” standards, it is actually portioned out by the number of legs per ten pounds. Different sized king crab legs (extra-large, jumbo, or super-jumbo, for example) equate to varying amounts of legs per ten pounds. As such, pricing reflects not only the pounds of crab meat, but also the size of the king crab legs themselves, and makes universal pricing kind of difficult to pin down.

Off-season king crab legs cost hovers around $30 per pound, while in-season prices, usually running about late February to mid- or late-March once the catch has ended, can sometimes get as low as $10 per pound while the product lasts. Placing orders in advance of the king crab season can help lock in those lower prices.

Remember to factor in shipping and service fees when buying king crab online. When considering how to purchase king crab, consumers can opt for whole king crabs or a combination of legs and claws (or both!). With price in mind, king crab leg cost per pound is less than that of a whole king crab.

Keeping all of these price variables in mind can help guide the search for the most affordable king crab legs cost online. Whether you’re trying to gauge the market price for king crab legs 2019 or looking ahead to 2021 or 2022, understanding these factors can help guide your purchase.

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