Firm demand and growing supplies balance the market.

In 2013 supplies for tilapia will increase from major producers, other than China, such as Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Brazil. Domestic markets will increasingly be the focus of producing countries with appreciation of currencies against the US dollar and euro. This is a continuation of the trend from last year as production in 2012 is estimated to be higher than the 2011 global production of 3.58 million tonnes.

Global supply and trade

The top ten tilapia producers together supplied 88% of global tilapia production in 2011, which totalled 3.585 million tonnes. Indonesia and Brazil experienced the fastest growth over a period of one year from 2010 by 31% and 63% respectively. Chinese tilapia production in 2012 was lower as a result of severe weather and disease problems.

During the first three months of 2013, close to 30 countries reported fresh and frozen tilapia imports valued at USD 200 million for some 55 000 tonnes. While the USA imported less frozen fillet, higher imports entered other markets, namely Russia, Iran and Hong Kong SAR.

China

Tilapia production is likely to show a moderate increase this year. According to FAO, production grew to slightly over 1 million tonnes in 2011. A larger amount of Chinese grown tilapia will enter the domestic market, where demand continues to grow.

Chinese tilapia exports increased marginally during the first quarter of 2013 to 67 000 tonnes at a value of USD 223 million. Frozen fillet made up the largest share of exports. However, positive growth was seen in whole frozen and prepared categories as well.

The frozen fillet category registered a 9% decline, primarily because of lower exports to the USA, which is the major market. Although new and emerging markets took a larger share of these exports, they did not compensate for lower exports to the US market. In the whole frozen and breaded fillet categories, African countries are taking an increasingly large share of the exports as well as the Middle Eastern markets.

USA

Total tilapia imports declined marginally during the January - March 2013 period, mainly because of the drop in imports of whole frozen and frozen fillets. The fresh fillet category showed recovery to the levels seen prior to 2012 with 7 223 tonnes. Supplies increased from Honduras, Ecuador and Costa Rica, which together took an 80% share of the imports. Colombia supplied 100% more to the market, possibly as a result of the free trade agreement (FTA) signed with the USA in May 2011. The overall increase in fresh tilapia imports supplied much of the Lent demand that was seen during the first quarter of the year.

EU

In a turnabout of events, EU imports of frozen tilapia fillets during the first quarter of 2013 was 14% higher than the same period of 2012 with 4 560 tonnes with a value of USD 16 million. Nearly 85% of the import share came from China while Indonesia supplied almost 100% more than in 2012 at 571 tonnes. Viet Nam, Thailand and Bangladesh also supplied more.

Products from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Ecuador fetched better prices, ranging between USD 6 - 7/kg. High prices offered for tilapia fillets from Malaysia are ASC certified products from the Malaysian producer Trapia Malaysia supplied early this year. Trapia Malaysia uses GenoMar Supreme Tilapia fingerlings from its onsite hatchery next to Lake Temenggor in the north part of the peninsula of Malaysia. Each fingerling is categorized, traceable and verifiable throughout the value chain. The fish are then cage-raised in the lake and are sold as frozen fillets and loins. Products are sold to North America, Europe, Asia and domestically. 

Average import prices for products from China were USD 3.15/kg.

Taiwan Province of China

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) hosted a joint ceremony with the Taiwan Frozen Seafood Industries Association and the Taiwan Tilapia Alliance (T2A) to celebrate the ASC certification of 11 Taiwanese tilapia farms at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels this year.

During the first three months of 2013, Taiwan PC exported nearly 8 000 tonnes of whole frozen tilapia, of which about 50% entered the USA market. Other leading destinations are the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Bahrain. Australia and Canada are also taking increasing shares of Taiwanese tilapia exports.

Frozen fillet from Taiwan PC usually fetches better prices because of its high quality. During the review period, a total of 1 035 tonnes of frozen fillet were exported, mostly to the Republic of Korea, the USA and Japan at an average export price of USD 8.35/kg. Products to the Japanese market, which are sashimi quality, fetched an average USD 10.20/kg.

Brazil

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture  (MPA) has announced that all imported fish must be analysed and subjected to an Import Risk Analysis (IRA). This is aimed at assessing the potential risk of introducing microorganisms capable of causing disease in the country. The MPA requires farmers at the origin adopt internationally accepted production practices. Health specialists from both ministries participated in a mission to Viet Nam to assess the Local Official Veterinary Service (OVS) and collect data to support the import risk analysis of pangasius (Pangasius spp.), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and barramundi or Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) fillets intended for human consumption.   Brazil does not authorize the import of fish from aquaculture in China because of the lack of recognition of equivalence between the official veterinary services, a prerequisite for the import of any aquaculture native fish.

Outlook

Other producers, besides China are making their presence felt in some of the traditional markets by supplying more tilapia products. Production is also increasing in other producing countries at a slow but steady pace, much of which is targeted at their domestic markets. This trend will continue.

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