(vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2012, Vietnam pangasius export to Germany totaled US$18.5 million, seeing a 41.5 percent drop from the same period last year. This was the deepest fall among those of Vietnam fish’s key importers in the EU.
Alaska Pollock accounts for 25 percent in Germany’s fish market. Sales of this whitefish species are increasing as price comes down. Vietnam pangasius is the fifth most consumed fish in Germany. However, the fish is sold at higher price, so German consumers are turning to buy Alaska pollock.
In 2011, German people’s spending for fish was up 0.4 percent; fish prices were also up 3 percent, causing a decrease of 2.5 percent in fish sales. Per capita fish volume is standing at 15 kilogram per person, in which Alaska pollock was the most consumed fish, followed by herrings, salmon (mostly farmed ones), tuna and pangasius. Consumption of most of popular fish like herring, salmon, tuna were sliding due to higher prices. In contrast, pollock got lower price and reached high sales.
Over the past five years, Vietnam pangasius shipment to Germany has remained annual value of over US$65 million. The fish occupied the fifth place in German fish market thank to good flavour, easy recipes and lower prices than other popular fish there.
Different from other importing countries in the South of Europe, German people do not like eating live or fresh fish; therefore, Germany imports only frozen pangasius fillets to supply domestic market rather than to process for re-export.
Pangasius sold in Germany generally weight 120/170 gram, 170/220 gram and 220 gram. Due to the pressure of fish price, local retailers tend to focus on the added value of fish products.
Currently, 84 percent of German households eat fish products. This reflects the trend to consume healthy food and avoid obesity in the country. They also love some imported fish such as pangasius from Vietnam, tilapia from American Latin countries, herring caught at Emden in North Germany and flounder from the Netherlands.
German consumers want both domestic and imported fish with acceptable prices and good quality. They generally buy fish in supermarket chain and local fish markets. Frozen pangasius fillets and herring fillets are well sold in the market because these are easy to cook. Frozen fish are the most traded with 34 percent of market shares; canned and marinated fish represents 26 percent; and 8 percent are fresh fish.
Vietnam saw drop in pangasius export due to its increasing price; while Alaska pollock suppliers pushed down its price, leading to high consumption of Pollock in Germany. However, as the country is still struggling with economic troubles, local consumers should choose products which have the same quality but lower price like pangasius. Though sales of pangasius fell, the fish still keep its position in German market, particularly in the tough economic time in Europe.