In 2019, sales of seafood, and especially bivalves, for the Christmas period started a bit later than usual in Europe and North America. By mid-December, traders were suddenly looking for bivalves, especially live oysters and scallops, and prices skyrocketed, exceeding levels reached in December 2018. In January 2020, prices went back to normal levels, and are likely to stay stable at least until early April, when Lenten demand will materialize. Bivalves are not a traditional item for the Chinese New Year, so unlike other seafood, bivalves will not increase their market presence in China.

Mussels

World mussel trade was stable in the first nine months of 2019 when compared with the same period of 2018. Some 237 000 tonnes entered international trade, on par with the corresponding figure in 2018. The main importing countries were France, the Netherlands and the United States of America. On the export side, Chile is dominating the market, with 67 000 tonnes exported in the first nine months of 2019, the same amount as in 2018. In the last quarter of the year, social up-roar affected the Chilean mussel industry, as all other economic activities.

The European Union is one of the main markets for live mussels, but imports went down slightly in the first nine months of 2019. Some 108 000 tonnes were imported by the European Union in this period, compared to 110 000 tonnes and 115 000 tonnes in the same period of 2018 and 2017 respectively. This type of trade is mainly an intra-European Union trade, with France as main importer, and Spain and the Netherlands as key suppliers.

Oysters

In 2019, Christmas sales of oysters were very strong, even exceeding expectations. Prices increased drastically, as supplies were tight, especially in France. According to industry reports there may be a shortage of #2 oysters and a higher availability of #4 in the French market.

According to SeafoodSource, ties between French and Irish oyster production remain numerous. In France, the rise in summer water temperatures summer has led French oyster producers to invest in Irish production, with one-third of oyster farms in Ireland now being French-owned. Many of the oysters grown in Irish waters are now being packed in France as French oysters.

Clams

International trade of clams is concentrated in the Asian market, with Japan and the Republic of Korea as main markets and China as a main supplier. From January – September 2019, the trade volume was stable at 200 000 tonnes, compared to the same period of 2018. In Europe, trade is almost absent, as the domestic markets are supplied by national producers.

The European Union has approved the extension for clam fishing of minimum size in Italy. Thanks to it, only Italy for 2020 will be able to fish for the small clam known as lupine, with a minimum size set at 22 mm. In the rest of Europe the minimum size for clams is 25 mm. The whole Italian sector is important, representing an annual production of 20 000 tonnes of fish with a value of EUR 60 million, which increases to EUR 140 million when considering the whole value chain. Clam fisheries in Italy has a long tradition, with more than 100 years of history. 

There are ongoing discussions between Italian producers in the Adriatic and Spanish producers in the Gulf of Cadiz on the minimum legal size of clams. The Spaniards claim that the minimum size of 25 mm as presently enforced by the European Union is adequate and protects the resource. Italian fishermen, however, claim that clams mature quickly in the Adriatic Sea, and the present high temperature leads to the reproduction of small clams. Therefore, clams of 22 mm size are mature. Spanish clams sell at a higher price (EUR 5.50-6.00 per kg) than those from Italy (EUR 2.50-3.00 per kg). 

Scallops

International trade in scallops is rather limited, not exceeding 150 000 tonnes per year. China is both the main importer and exporter. Peru came back as a main scallop exporter in 2019, after four rather difficult years. The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has approved changes that would allow American harvesters to land about 23 500 tonnes of Atlantic scallops in 2020, roughly 17 percent less than in 2019. The ex-vessel value is about USD 2.20 per kg.

Despite the decline in the quota, the overall catch in 2020 will be well ahead of the historical average. The resource is considered healthy. The recovery of the Peruvian scallop fisheries continued in 2019. In the first eleven months of the year some 8 500 tonnes of scallops were exported from Peru, which is 59 percent more than in 2018, and three times the low 2017 figures. Scallop production in Peru was affected by a strong El Niño in both 2016 and 2017. Export prices declined in line with higher availability.While Peruvian scallops in 2017 had a unit value of USD 16.85 per kg, this went down to USD 12.70 in 2018 and finally to USD 9.30 per kg in 2019.

Outlook

Demand for bivalves is growing, and supply is generally good. Prices are coming down for some products sold especially in Christmas periods, such as oysters and scallops. The good harvest from Peru is affecting the scallop market in the European Union, with unit values likely to go down even further. Mussels and clams are in good supply, and prices are expected to stay stable.