(seafood.com) Supply of sashimi tunas in Japan in 2011 was estimated to have aggregated 277,000 tons, further falling below the 292,000 tons in 2010 when the supply came under 300,000 tons, according to an expert panel on tuna supply and demand.
Looking at annual changes of supply in the panel's statistics in recent years, supply has shown a constant decline. For the January-March period this year, supply is forecast to remain level from a year ago, staying below normal years. The panel pointed out that, according to producers' projections, production in the period still continues to decrease, especially in distant-water operation.
The bearish trend in 2011 was blamed on decrease in catch quotas as well as lackluster catch, although the catch in the Pacific is showing slight upturn from late last year.
On the other hand, catch in the near-shore area operation remain robust, with exports of tunas of 10kg and smaller, mainly albacore, to Southeast Asian countries, remaining firm.
As for imports, supply of red meat continues to be sluggish, with cargo movements slowing down. The panel predicted the imports of tunas this year from the Mediterranean Sea will be 5,000-6,000 tons more than a year earlier, while Australian and Mexican tunas will stay more or less unchanged. Supply from domestic sources is foreseen to be slightly less than a year ago due largely to the decreasing number of juvenile fish.
Prices tend to take a downturn course, despite shrinking production. Prices of large bigeye maintain the same levels last year, but those of yellowfin and small- and medium-size bigeye are witnessing slow move as supply of large bigeye and albacore from purse-seine fishing has been increasing.
With respect to domestic demand, the brisk sales until late last year came to a standstill in early this year and the consumer demand for less expensive tunas has been rising. As a trend in sales patterns, the sashimi pack for serving to single persons has been on a rise.