In the period of the health emergency, the consumption of fish cooked at home has increased, in return for the closure of hotels, restaurants and catering. In addition to consumption channels, also the demand has changed, moving towards less valuable fish or cheaper alternatives, also as a result of the crisis of tourism as well as the economic crisis that has hit countries with weaker economies. Fisheries and aquaculture activities have thus suffered slowdowns. But in view of the “reopening” the sector has already registered signs of recovery. This is what emerges from the insight created exclusively for TUTTOFOOD by Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor which analysed the seafood sector registering comforting growth numbers for the future. This positive trend was also confirmed by ExportPlanning data reported from TUTTOFOOD.
The seafood market in numbers: the values in the world
The world trade of the seafood sector has exceeded in 2021 the 100 billion euros, with a full recovery after the pandemic year: after the -9.6% of 2020, in fact, the international exchanges of the sector have recorded last year an increase of +11.7%. Norway (with a world share of 10.8% in 2021), China (6.9%), Canada (5.2%), India (5.1%), Vietnam (4.9%), Russia (4.8%) and Ecuador (4.5%) are the world’s leading exporters in the sector. As regards, instead, the main world import markets of the sector, in 2021 the United States were in the lead (with a share of world demand equal to 15.8%), ahead – in order – China, Japan, France, Spain, Sweden and Italy (3.8% of world imports).
According to surveys reported by TUTTOFOOD and elaborated on ExpoPlanning data, it turns out that Italian imports of the sector, equal to 3.7 billion euros in 2021, are mainly met by Spain (19.8% of Italian imports of the sector in 2021), Norway (12.5%), Sweden (9.6%), the Netherlands (9%) and Denmark (8.5%). And according to forecasts they will grow this year by +2.5% in euro values, and then show a more accelerated profile in the average of the three-year period 2023-2025 (+7.7%). In 2021 The exports of Italy have reached 378 million euros, and were destined mainly to the Spanish market (24.3% of Italian exports in the sector) and, subsequently, to Germany (9.7%), France (7.9%), Portugal (6.1%), Austria (6%), Japan, Switzerland and South Korea. In the forecast scenario, growth of 5% is expected this year, and a more accelerated pace (+8.6%) in the average of the three-year period 2023-2025. Compared to a national production estimated last year at 644 million euros, the apparent consumption (production-export+import) is valued at over 4 billion euros, a good growth if we consider that in the middle of the last decade its value was less than 3 billion euros.
Emergency pushed the frozen sector, while reopening supports the fresh
In the last period the spotlight has also been on the processes of storage and conservation of fish, as well as on those of transformation, both to respond to the high demand for products suitable for conservation, such as canned and frozen, and not to waste the amount of fresh fish, for example, that remained unsold during periods of health emergency. The pandemic has in fact caused a change in the consumption trends of Italians. This results from the analysis conducted by the insight realized exclusively for TUTTOFOOD by Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor which highlighted how in 2020 the preference towards processed fish products prevailed, compared to fresh fish products. The trend, however, has not been lasting and a return to fresh fish shopping emerged in 2021.
According to the data processed by Ismea Nielsen and reported in the insight, it emerges for the first time that the growth was driven by fresh products in bulk compared to those packaged (+3.7% against a +2.5%). To lead the ranking we find fresh fish products, along with wines and sparkling wines. More in detail, according to Ismea, the seafood sector, in the first quarter of the year, boasted an increase in spending of 15%, partly overcoming the difficulties of 2020. The performance of the sector was strongly influenced by the fresh sector, which represents 48%, and for which the restrictions related to the pandemic had a very strong impact. Already in December 2020, fresh fish had scored the best performance, with an increase of 21% compared to the same period of the previous year. This increase even allowed to exceed the numbers achieved in 2019. The run of sales of fresh seafood products continued in the first three months of 2021, reaching +28.5% compared to the same period last year. However, also frozen fish products supported the sector both in 2020 and at the beginning of 2021; they were appreciated during the emergency period, then they were able to keep the interest of consumers, who further increased their purchases (+10.5%). Sales of smoked products (mainly salmon) also increased significantly, for which expenditure increased by 20.7%. On the other hand, canned fish (mainly represented by canned tuna) have lost momentum. But in Mediterranean countries, the taste is always very important and so octopus, squid and Argentine prawns prevail.
The reorganization of the sector between direct sales and the Internet
The health emergency has favoured a reorganization of the seafood sector. Research conducted by “Blue Economy” working group of the Centro di ricerca Politiche e Bioeconomia del Consiglio for research in agriculture and the analysis of the agrarian economy (CREA), in collaboration with Società NISEA (Ricerca economica nei settori della pesca e dell’acquacoltura), has highlighted that last year fish farms have adopted new management and organizational measures in order to review the methods of marketing their products. Manufacturers have tried to encourage direct sales, remote bookings, online purchases and home deliveries. Also governments supported this process as in almost the entire area of Mediterranean and Black Sea they have tried to support supply chains to compensate for the economic consequences determined by the restrictive measures adopted in times of pandemic. In particular, actions have been introduced to disseminate innovative marketing strategies, aimed, for example, at reducing the value chain or introducing new models of direct sales to consumers and home deliveries. So, in Croatia, France, Italy and Tunisia, both producer organizations and individual fishermen, started home sales through telephone calls or use of dedicated apps and websites. However, to be maintained over time, such innovations in delivery will need to be accompanied by control and supervision actions to avoid drifts of illegality by unregulated activities. Governments have also encouraged the use of new innovative technologies in the processing sector.
Farmed fish: sustainability and certified quality
The United Nations has estimated that, by 2030, the demand for fish products will increase by at least 40 million tons each year. It will therefore be impossible to satisfy this demand based only on the catch fish. In fact, Fao (The Food and Agriculture Organization) wanted to focus attention on the increasingly decisive role of small-scale fisheries and fish farming in a rapidly expanding sector, especially in terms of consumption. Starting from this point, the Acquacoltura Sostenibile (Sustainable Aquaculture) project has started, which aims to make the supply chain more competitive through the improvement of the quality and value of products and through upgrading in terms of environmental impact and animal welfare. Meanwhile, the certifications of “green” fishing or aquaculture, adopted by about 60% of fish processing companies, are gaining more and more space in Italy. As Marine Stewardship Council (Msc), the main program for seafood sustainability at the global level, which, in March 2022, plans to exceed 50 thousand tons of certified products sold in Italy.
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