Fish and Fisheries Products
Overview
|
|
Total world fish production (capture plus aquaculture)
in 2001 is estimated at 129.3 million tonnes, slightly
below the previous year's production of 130.4
million tonnes. The decline in 2001 was due primarily
to reduced catches of small pelagics fisheries in South
America, particularly in Peru. Of the total world
production in 2001, fish capture accounted for 91.8
million tonnes. This is 3 million tonnes short of the
2000 record capture. Aquaculture production continued
to expand in 2001, reaching 37.5 million tonnes, or 29
percent of total fisheries production, compared to a
share of just 15 percent in 1990.
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
provisional
|
|
( . . .million tonnes . . . )
|
China
|
40 029
|
41 600
|
42 580
|
Peru
|
8 437
|
10 665
|
7 996
|
India
|
5 593
|
5 689
|
5 689
|
Japan
|
5 961
|
5 752
|
5 405
|
USA
|
5 228
|
5 173
|
5 402
|
Indonesia
|
4 736
|
4 929
|
5 117
|
Chile
|
5 325
|
4 692
|
4 363
|
Russian Federation
|
4 210
|
4 048
|
3 718
|
Thailand
|
3 621
|
3 631
|
3 631
|
Norway
|
3 096
|
3 191
|
3 199
|
Others
|
40 415
|
41 095
|
42 200
|
World total
|
126 651
|
130 433
|
129 300
|
1/ Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc. -
nominal catches including acquaculture.
China is now by far the top producer of fish with some
42.6 million tonnes in 2001. Peru recovered its second
position among the main producing countries, but
reported a strong reduction in 2001 compared with 2000.
India is now the third major fishing nation in 2001
with 5.7 million tonnes.
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
provisional
|
|
( . . . million US$ . . . )
|
Japan
|
14 700
|
15 500
|
13 500
|
USA
|
9 400
|
10 500
|
10 300
|
Spain
|
3 300
|
3 400
|
3 700
|
France
|
3 300
|
3 000
|
3 100
|
Italy
|
2 700
|
2 500
|
2 700
|
Germany
|
2 300
|
2 300
|
2 400
|
UK
|
2 300
|
2 200
|
2 200
|
China
|
1 100
|
1 800
|
1 800
|
China, H.Kong
|
1 600
|
1 900
|
1 800
|
Denmark
|
1 800
|
1 800
|
1 700
|
Others
|
15 100
|
15 200
|
16 100
|
World total
|
57 600
|
60 000
|
59 300
|
Total world imports of fish products declined slightly
in 2001 in value terms to US$59 300 million.
Developed countries accounted - as usual - for
more than 80 percent of the total. Japan was again the
biggest importer of fishery products, accounting for
some 22 percent of the global total, though a
substantial decline from the 30 percent share that this
country used to have. Japan's imports of fish and
fishery products have declined due to the continuous
economic recession. The EU further increased its
dependency on imports for its fish supply. The share of
the EU in the value of world imports increased to 35
percent. The United States, besides being the
world's fourth major exporting country, was the
second biggest importer of fish products in 2001 with
value of US$10 200 million.
Thailand and China are the world's major
exporters of fish products in value terms, with
US$4 000 million each. China has impressively
expanded its performance as a fish exporter in recent
years and is likely to have overtaken Thailand as major
fish exporter in 2002.
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
provisional
|
|
( . . . million US$ . . . )
|
Thailand
|
4 100
|
4 400
|
4 000
|
China
|
3 000
|
3 600
|
4 000
|
Norway
|
3 800
|
3 500
|
3 400
|
USA
|
2 900
|
3 100
|
3 300
|
Canada
|
2 600
|
2 800
|
2 800
|
Denmark
|
2 900
|
2 800
|
2 700
|
Chile
|
1 700
|
1 800
|
1 900
|
Spain
|
1 600
|
1 600
|
1 800
|
China, Taiwan
|
1 700
|
1 800
|
1 800
|
Viet Nam
|
900
|
1 500
|
1 800
|
Others
|
27 600
|
28 500
|
28 100
|
World total
|
52 800
|
55 300
|
55 600
|
Review by Commodity
|
|
Shrimp is the world's most important fish
commodity accounting for about 19 percent of
international trade in value terms. The EU, Japan and
the United States are the world's major importers
of shrimp. Their combined imports is stable at
950 000 tonnes annually.
There are signs of a pick-up in shrimp prices during
the second half of 2002. It is likely that import
growth in several key markets during this period will
be weaker than in the first half of the year. While
2002 as a whole should be a record year for imports by
the United States (in volume terms), Japan's
imports this year are likely to be similar to the level
in 2001. In Europe, Spanish shrimp imports for the
first 8 months of 2002 were on a par with levels for
last year while French imports for the January -
September period were up 5 percent on the corresponding
2001 period. In all key shrimp markets, import values
in 2002 will be lower than 2001 levels as a result of
weaker average prices. On the producer side, year-end
figures should confirm strong export performances by
Viet Nam and Brazil for 2002 as a whole.
Tuna: After two years of extremely low prices in
1999 and 2000, the tuna market stabilized in 2001 and
continues to remain stable in 2002. After the fishing
bans enforced by the private tuna industry, prices
continue to remain steady at a level which is
considered economically viable by producers and
processors. The prices of raw material for canning are
expected to stay at present levels, while the sashimi
market depends much more on quality and demand in
Japan, with some improvements foreseen for the coming
months.
Bluefin tuna farming in the Mediterranean was difficult
in 2002 since lower catches of bluefin resulted in less
tuna to be put into onward growing pens. Bad weather
during the summer months led to a shorter fishing
season than usual. Total production of the farming
industry in 2002 is estimated to be 5 000 tonnes
in Spain, 3 000 tonnes in Croatia, 1 500
tonnes in Italy and 1 000 tonnes in both Malta and
Turkey, for a total of 11 500 tonnes in the
Mediterranean. The fish are normally caught in summer
months, mainly in July, and then put into the pens.
They are kept for about 6 months, awaiting the main
consumption period in Japan, the year-end season, which
brings the highest prices for the sashimi tuna. The
fish grows in the pens by about 15 percent in weight
during this period. The feed consists mainly of live or
very fresh pelagic fish, which is an interesting market
outlet for the pelagic fish production from the area.
Groundfish: Indications for 2002 point to a
decrease in frozen Atlantic cod fillet imports in key
markets. The general decrease in fillet imports,
attributed by the trade to higher prices, is balanced
in certain markets by an increase in whole frozen
imports. Competition from double frozen Chinese fillets
may undermine any further increase in cod fillet prices
in 2003. This increase may reduce any upward pressure
on block prices but there is uncertainty as to the
likely utilization of any increased Russian Federation
production.
Representatives from the pollock industry report that
increasing amounts of Alaska pollock are driving the
whole ocean whitefish industry. Governments are finally
beginning to see some positive results from
implementing a conservative management scheme over many
years.
About half of the Alaska Pollock harvest is processed
into a fish paste called surimi, which is fashioned
into many products in Japan and other Asian nations.
Much of the remainder is filleted and frozen in block
form for reprocessing in the United States and in
Europe.
Alaska groundfish, with pollock being the dominant
species, is one of the most important United States
fish harvests. In 2001, the fishery produced a catch of
1.9 million tonnes and an ex-vessel value of US$543
million. According to federal figures, this represented
47 percent of the quantity and 17 percent of the value
of the total United States domestic landings. After
primary processing, the value of fish increased sharply
to reach about US$1.4 billion.
The Norwegian groundfish industry is in a major crisis.
The estimated size of the cod resource, which is the
main species caught, is low, and prospects for recovery
are poor. As a result, quotas have been reduced but
prices remain low. In three years, the cod quota in the
Barents Sea had to be lowered by 460 000 tonnes,
with negative effects on the Norwegian and Russian
Federation industry. Vessels from these countries are
now mainly landing small cod, that means 3-4 year old,
which also does not help in rebuilding the stock.
Cephalopods: Illex catches in Argentine waters
in 2003 are forecast to be even lower than the reduced
2002 levels. This will have a direct impact on prices
which should go up. However, experience teaches that
forecasting the future Illex season at this time of the
year can often be erroneous, leading in many cases to
speculative purchases and over-pricing. The octopus
market seems to have normalized in recent months, and
no dramatic price developments are foreseen. The
measure of the Moroccan government of fixing minimum
prices seems to have been successful in raising prices,
and prices have soared from the very low levels reached
in 2001 and early 2002.
Squid supplies are expected to stay low in 2003. The
flying squid resource in Japan is reported to be in a
poor state overall, while Illex catches in the South
West Atlantic are expected to be even lower than in
2002. Giant squid catches in Peru are expected to be
affected by the El Niño, which could lead to a shortage
of squid on the market.
|