Surimi processors face price squeeze

News 13:45 13/09/2014
(IntraFish) European processors are in for tough times as prices of surimi base from Season A Alaska pollock are up by 15 to 18 percent this year, a surimi base trader and consultant said.

Low stocks in Japan saw Japanese buyers approach Alaskan pollock sellers already last December, Pascal Guenneugues, founder and director of Future Seafood, said.
“Negotiations for surimi base from Season A pollock last year was negotiated in March-April. But this year they started in the first week of January and are already over,” Guenneugues said.According to him, prices are up by 15 to 18 percent compared to last year.
In Japan, grade A surimi base for this season sold at ¥300 (€2.75/$3.69) to ¥330 (€3.03/$4.06) per kilo for delivery in Tokyo.
Grade B sold at ¥240 (€2.2/$2.95) to ¥260 (€2.39/$3.2) and grade K at ¥270 (€2.48/$3.32) to ¥290 (€2.66/$3.57), while Grade SA traded at ¥380 (€3.49/$4.68) to ¥400 (€3.67/$4.92).
The increase is partly a result of an unexpectedly strong demand from Japan. “With the earthquake and tsunami, people expected consumption to decrease in Japan. But instead, consumption rose by around 2 to 3 percent last year,” Guenneugues told IntraFish.
Combined with the low inventories they had, the result was that “Japan has come back to an important demand for pollock. Currency exchanges have also played a part. The Japanese yen has greatly strengthened over the past year, giving Japan stronger purchasing power.
The story is not so positive for European buyers, however. “For the European processors, this poses a big problem. Distributors are flatly refusing to increase their prices, so they will have to work at lower margins.”
European processors’ situation is compounded by realities of over-capacity, and an overall rise in all raw material prices, he said. “It will be a tough year for the processors.”
Switching to other sources of surimi base, such as tropical or freshwater species, is not necessarily that easy, he said.
“There is for instance pressure for some to have the Marine Stewardship Council label... Then it’s simply a matter of quantity -- Europe usually buys around 25,000 to 30,000 metric tons of Alaskan pollock surimi base; there’s simply not enough tropical species surimi base to replace that.”
And pollock-based surimi is not the only one to see an increase this year. Higher consumption in South East Asia, and especially China, has pushed up prices of grade A surimi base from tropical and freshwater species by up to 15 to 20 percent, Guenneugues said.
While statistics are hard to come by in the case of China, Future Seafood estimates that the country consumes around 300,000 metric tons to 500,000 metric tons of surimi products.
“China used to be the largest producer in Asia but they have been producing less in the past two years. Estimates of their surimi base production vary from 120,000 metric tons to 200,000 metric tons.”
The result is that China has become “in deficit. They now buy a lot from Vietnam and India. They used to export around 30,000 metric tons to each Japan and Korea, but now that’s been significantly reduced.”

Bạn đang đọc bài viết Surimi processors face price squeeze tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

An Giang: Developing climate-resilient marine aquaculture

 |  09:01 16/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.

Vietnam pangasius in China: Stable demand, intensifying competition

 |  10:02 11/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.

Vietnam’s lobster exports set for another strong surge in 2025

 |  08:58 09/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.

Da Nang city takes strong action against IUU fishing

 |  11:12 05/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel drop nearly 50% in the first 9 months of 2025

 |  09:13 04/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.

Vietnam exports first shipment of 700 tons of tilapia to Brazil

 |  09:42 02/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.

Pangasius Exports in October 2025: Positive Growth Momentum Led by China's Recovery

 |  12:40 28/11/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.

Appeal letter: Calling for Support to overcome the consequences of flooding in the central provinces

 |  10:39 27/11/2025

In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.

Raw shrimp prices remain stable, slight declines in some sizes at the end of October 2025

 |  09:04 26/11/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports in October 2025 hit the highest level since the beginning of the year

 |  08:26 25/11/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.

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