EU surimi market facing another difficult summer

News 09:15 08/07/2013 502
Surimi producers are looking ahead to another difficult year, with bad weather and high prices dampening consumption throughout western Europe.

About 129,000 metric tons of surimi are sold in western Europe, according to a recent presentation by Jean-Luc Beliveau, who heads research and development at French producer Alliance Ocean, at the Surimi Forum in Astoria, Oregon.

France is the biggest market in all of western Europe with a 47 percent share or 61,000 metric tons sold in 2012, followed by Spain with 40,000 metric tons.

While consumption in Spain increased 10 percent between last year and 2011, France saw stagnant sales, dropping from 63,000 metric tons in 2011, driven by unfavorable temperatures.

This year, the situation will not improve in the "mature" French market, Pascal Guenneugues, founder and president of FutureSeafood, told IntraFish.

Through the first five months of 2013, surimi salesin France were down 13 percent year on-year, he said, also due to the bad weather during the first half of the year.

"It is already late to catch up even if the weatherimproves now but a warm sunny summer would definitely help to counter-balance these bad statistics," he said.

Beliveau concurred with Guenneugues, saying sales at Alliance Ocean are down 5 percent so far this year. "It seems like an economic market bubble for surimi," he told IntraFish.

Also Spain could see a drop in consumption this year due to the continued economical crisis, he said.

Looking for new sales tactics

In addition to the bad weather -- and the flop of the Dukan diet-- surimi producers are also losing out on opportunities to promote their products at drive-through stations of French retailers, he said.

First introduced by Auchan, Leclerc, Casino and Carrefour in 2007, they have become a common method offood shopping, especially for young consumers, Beliveau said.

The concept is simple: Shoppers order online and get it delivered to their cars at hypermarkets.

"We know we could sell more volumes if we advertised online," Beliveau told IntraFish. "We believe it's one of the new potential markets for surimi."

Eric Coly, head of financial reporting at French deli group Fleury Michon, said also his company is struggling with the downward trend.

"The whole market has declined this year -- at Fleury Michon we see the same trend," he said

The company is now banking on "natural products" and premium surimi, Coly told IntraFish, with shoppers trending toward more expensive, branded products.

"Consumers no longer purchase discount labels -- they don't want to buy surimi with additives, preservatives, and so on," he said. "I'm sure we are on a good way with premium surimi."

Nevertheless, passing on high prices is difficult, he said, and much of the product goes over the counter due to promotional activities and price reductions.

When asked about the company sales targets for the year, Coly declined to comment but said "the whole market will decrease 10 percent in 2013" compared to last year.

Bạn đang đọc bài viết EU surimi market facing another difficult summer tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

VASEP published Report on Vietnam seafood exports in 2025

 |  11:00 11/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.

Ca Mau’s shrimp-rice model proves effective in climate change adaptation

 |  09:28 09/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.

Lam Dong tightens fishing vessel management in decisive crackdown on IUU fishing

 |  15:02 06/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Can Tho’s fishery output hits nearly 783,000 tons in 2025.

 |  15:12 04/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.

Pangasius exports in 2025 exceed USD 2 billion, with strong growth in multiple markets

 |  16:26 02/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain shift sharply toward processed segments

 |  09:48 26/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.

VIFTA expands opportunities for Vietnamese seafood enterprises in the Israeli market

 |  09:02 22/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...

Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports surge, EU market emerging as a late-2025 growth driver

 |  09:43 20/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.

Ca Mau leads the nation in shrimp output

 |  10:08 16/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.

Pangasius fingerling prices hit record highs

 |  15:21 14/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC