The section below contains articles from Chinese news and media that focus on trends in relation to seafood imports and exports.

Note: If foreign articles are opened in Google Chrome, they can be automatically translated

🍽 China Hospitality Association: Seafood catering industry growing at between 10%-30% 

The China Hospitality Association has released its "Seafood Catering Industry Market Research Report".  

According to the report, China's per capita seafood consumption was trending upward prior to the pandemic, reaching 32kg/year in 2019. The Association estimates 2020 per capita consumption at about 26kg/year. Despite the setback, the research claims “the current growth rate of China's seafood catering industry is between 10%-30%, and the seafood catering industry is in the growth stage.”  

The survey notes a change in consumption structure towards a higher proportion of seafood vs red meat in average diets, and the enduring popularity of seafood stalls. It also contains a ‘power ranking’ of dominant Chinese seafood brands. See the full article on the STAG Website:  

In more immediate China seafood market news, Rizhao reports on demand after the National Holiday period in China: ‘the number of people buying seafood after the holiday has decreased significantly, and the market demand has decreased.’  

Another summary of recent pricing trends across China’s seafood wholesale markets is available here.  
 

🌍 African lobsters for China?  

Xinhua reports on the market for imported African seafood in China, during the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. According to one importer, the advantages of African product are obvious:  

"African seafood has good meat quality and large size, and it has an advantage in key prices… taking fresh lobster as an example, after counting the freight, it is at least 10% cheaper than Australian lobster”  

On the other hand, this blogger on Zhihu breaks down some of the disadvantages of imported African seafood, including insufficient production volumes, unreliable cold chains, geographic distance affecting freshness and cost, and - in the author’s opinion - a lack of deliciousness.

The section below contains articles focusing on other global seafood markets, including news and media from relevant markets to Australian seafood exporters. 

🏈 US Consumption update 

Seafoodsource.com reports US fresh seafood sales the first three quarters of 2021 spiked 3.9 percent by value and 2.9 percent by volume and frozen seafood sales grew 2 percent by value, but shrunk 2.4 percent by volume. The numbers come from research firms IRI and 210 Analytics.  

The article adds: “Frozen seafood is perceived to be just as good or even better than fresh by a majority of younger consumers, driven in part by changes in the versatility, quality, and healthfulness of frozen substitutes, according to a new Deloitte survey.”  

Read the full story on the STAG website here.

📊 OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029 – Fisheries 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  website is hosting its fisheries outlook for the next ten years. According to the projections: 

• prices will rise at a rate between 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent per year; 

• production will increase by 1.3 percent per year; 

• trade will increase by 1.1 percent, and  

• consumption will increase at 0.5 percent per year.  

See the details here.  

🗾 Japan: Disaster in Hokkaido; food service still struggling  

A red tide of an ‘unprecedented scale’ off the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido is believed to have caused massive deaths of sea urchins and salmon in the area. The damage, mostly to the sea urchin population, is estimated at around ¥4.5 billion. One fishing cooperative reported seeing some 90% of sea urchins to be harvested perish.  

The massive deaths of sea urchins and salmon have led to a surge in their prices. Read the full article on STAG Website 

In Tokyo, despite the easing of pandemic restrictions, food service venues continue to struggle. Customers have been slow to return, and staff are in short supply. Read more from the Japan News.  
 

🐟 Singapore seafood production hit by pandemic 

Thefishsite.com reports that Singapore’s fish production fell to 3,960 tonnes – its lowest level since 2014 – due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Straits Times has more on the story here.  

🤝 Save the Date: South Australian DTI Seafood Business Matching Event and Tasting - China 

The Department for Trade and Investment (DTI), in partnership with Shandong China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), is offering South Australian seafood exporters an opportunity to join an exclusive virtual business matching event and tasting, designed to rebuild business opportunities and partnerships in China. The event will be held on 26 October, commencing at 8:00 am.  

Save the date and learn more here.  

NOTE TO EXPORTERS:
Queensland IFAM Briefing Oct 20th 

Queensland exporters, producers, and agribusiness are invited to attend the Latest export news from the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), Agribusiness Expansion Initiatives, (ABEI), and the Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ). 

Wednesday, October 20th, 1-2pm (AEST)

Join the event here:
Event number (access code): 2650 105 1675
Event password: 556789

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