The growing uncertainty about the safety of seafood products exported from China, one of the world's leading producers, could represent an opportunity for Central American countries to gain some insight into the global market.
In this context of new commercial reality, the retail channel will continue to be the main demander in the short term for products that are easy to prepare such as tilapia, salmon, trout, shrimp and others with which consumers feel more comfortable cooking at home.
From July 30 to August 1, a business meeting will take place between business leaders in the region and Chilean companies from the forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and seafood sectors.
From a press release by ProChile:
The event will be held in Guatemala City, between July 30 and August 1, and will bring together about 120 buyers from all over the region.In total, there will be 60 places for Chilean entrepreneurs in the forestry and agricultural sector, industry-manufactures and seafood.
Nicaraguan Rum, cigars, seafood, honey, vegetables, beans, timber, medicines and wood furniture will be allowed into Ecuador with preferential tariffs.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Nicaragua:
With 83 votes the National Assembly approved, on February 22, a Partial Agreement between Nicaragua and Ecuador that will allow the exchange of tariff preferences and the elimination of non-tariff restrictions on imports of a variety of more than 30 products from both countries.
In the first ten months of the year foreign sales of seafood products fell, except for shellfish and shrimp, which are growing at double digits.
Statistics from the Center for Export Procedures (CETREX) show that foreign sales of seafood grew by 19% compared to the first ten months of 2015, while exports of sea shrimp, recorded an increase of almost 13%.
Powered by shrimp farming, the gross value of fisheries and aquaculture production reached $129 million in 2014, 16.3% more than in 2013, when it totaled $113 million.
This growth is mainly due to increased shrimp production, which recorded sales of $74.7 million, of which $66.2 million came from shrimp farming and the rest from shrimp caught in the open sea.
With a bill to incentivize development of the sector and other measures to provide facilities to farmers, the government aims to boost the growth of aquaculture in the country.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Ministry of Production of Peru announced a series of measures aimed at laying the foundations for sustainable development and launching aquaculture within the framework of the implementation of the National Plan for Productive Diversification.
Canned tuna is preferred over presentations in glass or tetra pak containers, with increased demand reported in varieties of yellow and albacore tuna.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The consumption of canned tuna in the Middle East is concentrated in Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which depend entirely on imports, coming mainly from Thailand (86.4%), Italy (7.4%) and other Southeast Asian countries among these, the Philippines and Indonesia, with 6.6%.
In the past year, the Colombian fish imports increased 42%, due to difficulties of local industry in supplying domestic demand.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office of (PROCOMER):
The Colombian fishing industry is going through tough times due to various reasons such as resource depletion, pollution, oil and mining spills , increased cost of materials especially related to fuel prices, which has led to a considerable decrease in fish production.
Between January and October this year, exports of Nicaraguan shrimp to France were worth over $18 million, up 92% compared to the same period of 2013.
According to the Center for Exports (CETREX), of the total sales generated from shrimp farming, France accounts for 10.6%. From January to November 2, 2014 sales of $18.3 million were recorded, well above the $9.5 million reported in the same period last year.
Fish which undergoes long-term processing such as canned fish, seafood and prepared fish dishes represents 52% of the retail market for processed fish, followed by frozen and refrigerated fish.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food in Canada (AAFC), the seafood market in Canada increased from $2.8 billion (684.200 tons) in 2009 to $3.8 billion (709.100 tons) in 2013 and it is expected that demand will continue to increase as Canadians include fish and seafood as a regular part of their healthy diet. It is also expected that prices will increase by over 40% in 2016 compared to 2009.
85% of the seafood consumed by Americans is imported, with shrimp, freshwater fish fillets and crab having the largest volume of all such goods imported from abroad.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
Some time ago, the USA depended only on shellfish fished on its coasts, the state of New York was famous for its oysters and Louisiana and Mississippi for its prawns, but things have changed.
In 2013 total production increased by 8% and foreign sales of fish, shrimp , lobsters and seafood, by 28%.
Fish production last year grew by 8%, with farmed shrimp products having the largest increase. Foreign sales of fish, shrimp, shellfish and lobsters reported a 28% increase compared to 2012, going from $192 million to $246 million at the end of 2013, according to statistics from the Center for Exports.
Previously unthinkable export deals are now possible thanks to the soaring consumption levels of the Chinese.
An article by Amafredo Castellanos in Revistamyt.com reviews the success of Guatemala's Acuamaya, one of the largest shrimp companies in the region, which has already begun to export shrimp to China.
"... Selling seafood to China, or coffee, may sound like a joke.
Consumption of sea products has grown by 14.6% over the past five years, with new food trends in America and cultural aspects motivating the increase.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
According to a study by Mintel, the consumption of fish and seafood in the U.S. has grown by 14.6% in the past five years. This sector continued to grow even in the most critical period of the last economic crisis suffered by the U.S (2008-2009), a fact that was supported by American's desire to consume healthy products.
In Taiwan Nicaraguan businessmen closed deals on meat, coffee, seafood and other products, worth a total of $14.2 million.
According to the ambassador of Taiwan in Nicaragua, Y.W. Hsing, during the fair, which was held in June, Nicaraguan food products received more than 120 visits."Their products had a very satisfactory reception with our consumers," he said.