(seafood.com) Japan's seafood imports in the first six months of this year gained 7.1% over the corresponding period of the previous year to 1,137,563 tons, the Finance Ministry said on July 25.
The import value during the period also surged 13.9% to Y703,671 million. Imports of shrimp totaled 87,794 tons, up 2.4%, worth Y78,690 million, up 7.2%.
On the other hand, the ministry said that Japan's imports of livestock meat during the half-year period decreased in both volume and value, with 1,211,405 tons, down 1.2% and Y507,997 million, down 1.7%. On the same day, the ministry announced the preliminary figures of Japan's seafood imports in June 2012.
Seafood imports volume during the month aggregated 176,600 tons, off sizably from a year earlier to 176,600 tons, registering the first year-on-year monthly fall for the first time in eight months since October last year. Import value, however, inched up 0.8% to Y108,217 million--an 11th straight monthly gain.
In a conspicuous move among exporting countries, shipments in June from the United States plunged 28.9% to 24,989 tons worth Y8,878 million down 25.9%.
Imports from the European Union also sank 30.0% to 2,736 tons, and those from China slid 9.1%. to 37,472 tons. Imports from Asian countries, which account for the largest bulk of Japan's seafood purchase, saw a decline of 0.6% to 92,563 tons, while value advanced 8.0% to Y61,311 million.
Based on the results, it is conjectured that seafood imports during the month slumped on the whole, including procurement of raw materials, prepared and semi-processed products.
By contrast, imports of frozen shrimp--a commodity which runs up to a large sum--maintained the second straight monthly growth in June.
Industry sources consider the shrimp increase came in a move to supplement the import decreases in February-April.