Brussels, 31/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The EU fish market report 2014, which was published by the European Commission on Monday 31 March, shows that the EU is a major market for the consumption of seafood products, 12.3 million tonnes , worth €52.2 billion in 2011. The EU is the world's largest importer of seafood products, making up 24% of the total value of world trade, the report confirms.
This publication is one of the services of the European Market Observatory for Fishery and Aquaculture (EUMOFA). Amongst other things, the report shows that the EU is in fifth place in fish production ranking after China, Indonesia, India and Peru.
EU consumption per head of population is 24.5 kg (2011). It decreased by 5% between 2008 and 2010 and remained stable between 2010 and 2011. This is a change in trend after a robust growth in per capita consumption since 2000. Seafood consumption varies a lot from one member state to another. Northern member states are more focused on processed fish while southern member states still favour fresh products and devote a large proportion of household expenditure to fish.
The consumption of farmed products, which represents 24% of total EU consumption, decreased by 5% in 2011. This could be a consequence of reduced EU aquaculture production and reduced imports of farmed products, in particular pangasius. Extra-EU imports grew at a substantial rate of 3% in value between 2011 and 2012, reaching €19.2 billion.
Norway and China are the main suppliers of the EU. The volume of seafood products exported to the EU from Norway showed significant increases - mainly salmon and cod. China confirms its leading role as a processing country for white fish. Shrimp imports (mainly destined for Spain) rose by 20% between 2011 and 2012, after a three-year decrease.
In 2012, the value of extra-EU exports grew by 24% compared to 2011, reaching €4.1 billion. This figure included a strong preponderance of exports from Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark. The main clients are the United States, Norway and Switzerland in value, and Nigeria, Norway, Russia and Egypt in volume.
In 2012, exports between EU member states were four times larger than exports to third countries. Intra-EU trade registered a volume of exchanges amounting to more than 5.1 million tonnes (net weight), increasing by over 270,000 tonnes (+5.6%) compared to 2011. In terms of value, it amounted to €17.9 billion (+8.5%).
In 2011, EU landings reached their lowest level of the last six years, decreasing by 12% compared to the previous year. Small pelagics and groundfish suffered the sharpest decline between 2010 and 2011. At member state level, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom registered the most significant decreases. The consumption of seafood per head of population in the EU seems to have reached a plateau after a decade of dynamic growth.
Despite the economic crisis which has hit Europe for the last four years, the total expenditure on seafood and farmed products in the EU in 2012 reached its highest level since 2007, at €52.7 billion. Nearly 60% of EU expenditure was made by three member states - Spain, France and Italy - which spent €11.3 billion, €10.0 billion and €9.7 billion on seafood products respectively. Additionally, the expenditures of Spain and France in 2012 were at their highest level in the last four years. The United Kingdom registered a remarkable increase in consumption expenditure (+11%).
Consumer prices for seafood increased faster than other food products since 2010. Tuna, cod and salmon are the main species consumed in the EU in terms of volume. Imports are characterised by a strong increase in value (+15% or +€3 billion) between 2009 and 2012. In value, shrimps have become the first imported species ahead of salmon, tuna and cod.
EU self-sufficiency in seafood (i.e. the production relative to its internal consumption) remained stable at around 45% between 2008 and 2011. While the EU covers fully its needs for flatfish and small pelagics (and even produces surpluses), it is increasingly and highly dependent on external sourcing for groundfish, salmonids and tuna. (LC)