(pangasius-vietnam.com) In September 2013, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Spain reached US$5.8 million, up 39.2 percent from the compatible period of 2012. This was the second time since August 2013 that pangasius sales to this market report growth. However, with drop in the first consecutive seven months, the year-to-date export value decreased by 16.6 percent to US$56.7 million.
According to statistics from International Trade Center (ITC), through July 2013, Spain bought 110,600 MT of frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) from the world, mainly from Vietnam, Namibia and China. However, imports from these three markets were showing decline in volume.
Last year, 35,600 MT of pangasius products were sent into Spain, representing 20 percent of European total imports of this kind of fish. Frozen fish fillets accounted for 95 percent and the rest was fresh fish fillets. This was the first time that Spain consumed fresh pangasius fillets from Vietnam.
In January 2012, Spain imported pangasius fillets at an average price of EUR2.12 per kilogram. The price was slightly up to EUR2.18 per kilogram in February and then started sliding to EUR1.73 per kilogram in December. Pangasius also saw downing prices in many other markets in Europe. Prices for pangasius in Spain were much lower than those of other key markets in the block. In 2012, fresh and frozen pangasius cost averagely at EUR1.98 per kilogram in Germany, EUR2.29 per kilogram in the Netherlands, EUR2.66 per kilogram in the U.K. and EUR2.14 per kilogram in Italy.
Hake took a major part in Spanish imports of frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304). It was followed by pangasius and Alaska pollock. Currently, fresh fishes are facing the downtrend in sales while other processed and frozen products have been more consumed because of cheaper prices.
Spanish market has not shown strong recovery immediately, which is pushing food services to boost sales by reducing seafood prices. Therefore, the situation will bring advantages to whitefish species like pangasius, Alaska pollock and hake. In which, pangasius is hoped to be the first choice of consumers there.