This market reports focuses on catch volumes and harvests of shellfish in Japan, Spain and the US. It also highlights fishing bans, prices, inventories, markets, imports and exports of species detailed in the following index.

1. ASIA

1.1 Japan

Brownlip abalone (Haliotis conicopora)
Greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata)
Green abalone (Haliotis fulgens)
Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roe)
Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Imports

According to Japanese Customs, in April 2013 imports reported over 214 tonnes of fresh, frozen and canned abalone worth over JPY 756 million (about USD 7.7 million, corrected currency), meaning an average price of JPY 3,521 (about USD 36.01)/kg CIF Japan, up 30% in volume and 31% in value on those of the previous month.

Compared with the same month in 2009, these figures are up 10% in volume and 14% in CIF value . 

Table 1: Imports of abalone, January-April 2013

Source: Japan Customs

In January-April 2013 imports reported over 641 tonnes of fresh, frozen and canned abalone worth over JPY 2,231 million (about USD 23.8 million, corrected currency), meaning an average price of JPY 3,480 (about USD 37.18)/kg CIF Japan, up 1% in volume and up 6% in value on those of the same period in 2012.

In January-April 2013, Chile and South Korea were the main abalone suppliers for Japan.

Table 2: Origin of abalone imports,
January-April 2013

Source: Japan Customs

Pacific cupped oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

Imports

According to Japan Customs, in April 2013, imports reached over 1,061 tonnes of live, fresh or frozen oysters worth over JPY 615 million (about USD 6.3 million, corrected currency), with an average price of JPY 580 (USD 5.93)/kg CIF Japan, up almost twofold in volume and in CIF value on those of the previous month. 

Compare with April 2012, they were up 39% both in volume and CIF value.

Table 3: Imports of live, fresh or frozen oysters,
January-April 2013

Source: Japan Customs

In January-April 2013, imports reached over 1,880 tonnes of live/fresh or frozen oysters worth over JPY 1,130 million (about USD 12.1 million, corrected currency), with an average price of JPY 601 (USD 6.42)/kg CIF Japan, up 4% in volume and 6% in CIF value on those of January-April 2012.

South Korea was the main supplier of oysters from January to April 2013.

Table 4: Main suppliers of live, fresh or frozen oysters,
January-April 2013

Source: Japan Customs

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2. EUROPE

2.1 Spain

Barnacle (Pollicipes cornucopia)
Spider crab (Maja squinado)
Norway lobster (Nephrops novergicus)
Cockle (Cerastoderma edule)
Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum)
Banded carpet shell (Venerupis rhomboides)
Grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus)
Pullet carpet shell (Venerupis pullastra)
Edible crab (Cancer pagurus)
Razor shell (Ensis ensis)
Mature dosinica (Dosinia exoleta)
Velvet swimcrab (Necora publer)
Warty venus (Venus verrucosa)

Catch volumes

According to the Centro de Control del Medio Marino, during week 23, the situation of biotoxins in the Galician estuaries was as follows:

In the case of pond molluscs fattening for farming -mostly of mussels and oysters-, out of the 53 existing beds, 18 were closed to extraction, according to the report dated 13 June. The situation has improved slightly with the opening of 2 beds. The beds affected by toxins were two in Ares-Betanzos, one in Arosa, that of Corme, seven in Pontevedra and seven in vigo.

The situation of pectinid molluscs farming -scallops, queen scallops and variegated scallops- is still the same. The report dated 28 March 2012 revealed that 8 beds were closed, out of the 16. The affected beds were: one in Ferrol, one in Betanzos, one in Arosa, three in Pontevedra and two in Vigo.

In the case of infaunal molluscs, i.e. clams, cockles, razor shells, etc, the report dated 06 June 2013 revealed that, out of the 33 beds, four were closed to extraction. The affected beds were two in Ares, that of Corme-Laxe and one in Muron-Noia. In Muros extraction of razor shell and sabre clam is allowed.

As regards scallops, according to the report dated 25 April all 16 beds were closed to extraction. Extraction is exclusively allowed for gutting in three beds of Aorsa.

On Galician markets, during week 23, the auction volumes of shellfish reported a slight drop of 1.9 tonnes. The most important drop was that in manila clam; the most significant rise was that of pullet carpet shell.

Table 5: Auctions on Galician markets, weeks 23 and 22

Source: Consellería de Pesca. Xunta de Galicia

On the wholesale market of Mercamadrid, the most important drop was that in fresh mussels. The rest of the declines were slight. The most important drops were those of farmed clams and banded carpet shell.

On Mercabarna, incoming volumes of most shellfish species increased. Drops have been few and not significant. The most important rises were reported by fresh mussel and fresh farmed clams.

Table 6: Demand for shellfish on Mercamadrid,
weeks 23 and 22

Source: Mercamadrid

Prices

On Galician markets, the most important drops were those in barnacle and grooved carpet shell. The most important rises were those in cockles and ox crab. The rest of variations were below EUR 2.

Table 7: Average auction quotes on Galician markets,
weeks 22 and 23

Source: Consellería de Pesca. Xunta de Galicia

On Mercamadrid, the prices remained stable for all species.

On Mercabarna, the most important variations were the rises in fresh red lobster and fresh mantis shrimp. The rest of increases were below EUR 2. The most significant drop was that in frozen scarlet shrimp. All drops were below EUR 1.

Table 8: Average prices of shellfish on Mercamadrid,
weeks 23 and 22

Source: Mercamadrid

Table 9: Prices at first sales and volumes landed in France,
weeks 23 and 22

Source: FranceAgriMer

Table 10: Prices at first sales and volumes landed in Italy,
weeks 23 and 22

Source: ISMEA - Istituto di servizi per il mercato agricolo alimentare

Table 11: Prices of products on the wholesale market destined
to Italy, weeks 23 and 22

Source: ISMEA - Istituto di servizi per il mercato agricolo alimentare

Table 12: Prices at first sales and volumes landed
in Belgium, weeks 23 and 22

Source: Vlaams Ministerie van Landbouw en Visserij

Table 13: Prices at first sales and volumes landed
in the Netherlands, weeks 23 and 22

Source: PEFA - Pan European Fishing Auctions

Table 14: Prices at first sales and volumes landed
in Sweden, weeks 23 and 22

Source: Havs- och vattenmyndigheten

Market

Table 15: Imports of live, fresh or chilled European lobsters
(Homarus spp.), January-March 2013

 Source: Eurostat

Table 16: Exports of live, fresh or chilled European lobsters
(Homarus spp.), January-March 2013

 Source: Eurostat

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3. NORTH AMERICA

3.1 United States

Brownlip abalone (Haliotis conicopora)
Greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata)
Green abalone (Haliotis fulgens)
Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roe)
Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Imports

According to the GATS (Global Agricultural Trade System), in April 2013, imports reported over 24.9 tonnes of abalone –live, fresh, frozen, dried, canned and products- worth over USD 1.1 million, with an average price of USD 46.99/kg CIF US.

These figures are down 39% in volume and 11% in CIF value on those of the previous month and up twofold in volume and CIF value on those of the same month in 2012.

Table 17: Abalone imports, January-April 2012/2013

Source: NMFS

During the first four months of 2013, the US imported over 107.1 tonnes of abalone products –live, fresh, frozen, dried and canned presentations and products-, worth over USD 3.8 million, with an average price of USD 36.10/kg CIF US.

In January-April 2013, Chile, Australia and Mexico were the main abalone suppliers.

Table 18: Main origins of products,
January-April 2013

 Source: NMFS

Exports

According to the US GATS, in April 2013, exports reported 80.5 tonnes of abalone -canned and products- worth over USD 620,000, with an average price of USD 7.70/kg FOB US.

These figures are up 56% in volume and 2% in FOB value on those of March; they are also up fourfold in volume and threefold in FOB value on those of April 2012.

Table 19: Abalone exports, January-April 2012/2013

Source: NMFS

During the first four months of 2013, the US exported 162.5 tonnes of abalone products and canned presentations worth over USD 1.6 million, with an average price of USD 10.22/kg FOB US.

From January to April 2013, Japan, Malaysia and Canada were the main destinations of this species.

Table 20: Main destination of abalones,
January-April 2013

Source: NMFS

Pacific cupped oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
And others

Imports

According to US Customs, in April 2013, imports reported over 339.1 tonnes of live, fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked, dried, canned and in-brine oysters, wild and farmed, except seeds, worth almost USD 2.3 million, with an average price of USD 6.83/kg CIF USA.

These figures are down 6% in volume and 2% in CIF value on those of the previous month; they are also down 12% in volume and 8% in CIF value on those of April 2012.

Table 21: Oysters imports, January-April 2012/2013

Source: US Customs

In January-April 2013, imports reported 1,357.7 tonnes of live, fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked, dried, canned and in-brine oysters, wild and farmed, except for seeds, worth almost USD 9.8 million, with an average price of USD 7.22/kg CIF USA.

In January-April 2013, China and South Korea were the main oyster suppliers.

Table 22: Main origins of oysters, January-April 2013

Source: US Customs

Exports

According to the US Customs, in April 2013, exports reached 376.7 tonnes of oysters in all presentations, except seeds, worth over USD 1.0 million, with an average price of USD 2.79/kg FOB US.

These figures are up 44% in volume and 21% in FOB value on those of March 2013, and up 32% in volume but down 46% in FOB value on those of April 2012.

Table 23: Oyster exports, January-April 2012/2013

Source: US Customs

In January-April 2013, exports reported 1,246.7 tonnes of live, fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked, dried, canned and in-brine oysters, wild and farmed, except for seeds, worth almost USD 7.9 million, with an average price of USD 6.35/kg CIF USA.

In January-April 2013, Hong Kong and Canada were the main destinations of oysters.

Table 24: Main destinations of oysters, January-April 2013

Source: US Customs

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By Ignacio Bayley Bustamante and Juan Murias

www.fis.com