Squid - August 2011
After last year’s improved supplies of squid, this trend seems to be sustained this year.
Japan’s squid imports were stable last year, ending up at the same level as in 2009. In 2011, there are indications that supplies to the Japanese market have improved slightly. Japanese imports of squid during the first quarter of the year were up by almost 16%. The main supplier, China, strengthened its position on the Japanese market, while other main suppliers such as Thailand, the USA and Viet Nam registered slight declines in shipments to Japan. Peru saw an increase in exports to Japan, albeit from a low base. Reports from Peru also indicate that cephalopods, especially squid, are becoming an important export item for the country. The main destination for Peru’s export is Spain, although during the first three months of 2011, Peruvian squid exports to Spain fell.
On other squid markets, Italy registered a slight increase in imports, while Spain saw a massive decline in imports (-29%) during the first quarter of 2011. The main reason for this decline seems to be that imports from China and India were markedly down. Spain is also one of the main suppliers to Italy.
On the US market, there was a continued rise in imports. After a decline in imports in 2009, US squid imports bounced back in 2010, and during the first quarter of 2011, there was a remarkable increase of almost 90%.
While the USA has also developed into a major supplier of squid to other markets, its exports during the first quarter of 2011 do not appear to have increased much,so apparently US consumption of squid is increasing.
In fact, according to US statistics, US exports of squid during the first three months of the year fell by almost 20% in volume. However, export prices went up by 11.7%,indicating a significant rise in prices for US squid abroad.
Last year, it was reported that supplies of giant squid were improving and that one of the major fisheries off Chile had been certified by Friend of the Sea. Over the past few months, there has been some uncertainty about giant squid supplies. While demand for this product is good in Europe, there are some problems with the trade, particularly with late payments by European importers.
