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.
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.
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.
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.
Fishery and aquaculture products are to have specific rules on labeling, which will apply to both locals and imported foods.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The 27 member states and the European Parliament (EP) have reached an agreement on the implementation of a Common Market Organization for fishery and aquaculture products (CMO), which includes specific rules that in regards to labeling local and imported products.
The EU has launched the European Market for Fisheries and Aquaculture, an interactive website which will collect updated information on the volume, value and price of seafood.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Brussels Seafood Fair, one of the most important trade events for the sector in Europe, was the location chosen by the European Commission (EC) to present its new Web tool, the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA), a new interactive website and available to collect updated information on the volume, value and price of seafood along the entire value chain, from landing to the point of sale.
Generates business opportunities by linking supply and demand of goods and services between Central America and the rest of the world.
Organization that operates in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
Phone: (506) 225 4786
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...
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