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A sardine processing line at a canning factory. Last year, the country exported 127,000 tonnes of canned seafood. (Photo: ANFACO)
Canned seafood products held in 2009
SPAIN
Monday, March 15, 2010, 22:40 (GMT + 9)
The Spanish production of canned products and semi-canned seafood products reached a volume of 354,179 tonnes last year, 1.95 per cent more than in 2008. The value of these products registered an inter-annual increase of only 0.09 per cent, in going from EUR 1,299,839 to EUR 1,300,957, according to the National Association of Fish and Shellfish Canners (ANFACO).
Per species, all the categories underwent cuts in price of up to 8.44 per cent – as occurred with cockles – except in the case of squid and baby squid, which increased 8.24 per cent in value.
As detailed by a report released by ANFACO Friday, the Spanish sector consists of 147 companies which together generate 15,375 jobs -- of these 77 per cent (11,950) are located in Galicia.
Of total canning production last year, the country exported 127,000 tonnes (35 per cent), which reflects a reduction of 9.09 per cent with respect to 2008.
In terms of value, the exports of canned products generated EUR 483.5 million in sales, that is, 10.63 per cent less than in 2008.
ANFACO explained that sales of sardine overseas demonstrated a significant 33 per cent fall in 2009. This trend is the opposite of that experienced by canned tuna loin products, which increased by 30 per cent in exports.
Most of the canned fish and shellfish products of Spain had
the European Union as their destination market, in absorbing 111,963 tonnes.
The rest went to countries of the Americas (5,587 tonnes) and Africa (5,253 tonnes), to non-community European nations (4,011 tonnes), to Asia (415 tonnes) and Australia (108 tonnes).
Meanwhile, Spain imported 163,201 tonnes of canned and ready-cooked fish and shellfish products last year, which represents an increase of 10.29 per cent. EUR 515 million was paid for these imports, 0.32 per cent more than in 2008.
In volume, the canned tuna products are the main output of the industry of canned sea and aquaculture products, in representing almost 67 per cent of the total. They were followed by the group of sardines/baby sardines (8.3 per cent), by "other canned products" (7.8 per cent), and by canned mackerel products (4.4 per cent), the report specifies.
In terms of value, canned tuna products are the flagship products of canning industry, in representing 53.7 per cent of the total. Next are the groups of mussels (7.7 per cent), sardine/baby sardines (7.1 per cent), "other canned products" and cockles (7 per cent), and semi-canned anchovy (6.9 per cent).
Galicia is the main autonomous Spanish community in the production of canned fish and shellfish products: in 2009 it produced 85.5 per cent of the total volume – some 302,823 tonnes – and 84 per cent of the value – some EUR 1,092,848.
ANFACO also informed that the main group of fish and shellfish exported in 2009 was that of frozen fish, which represents 48.8 per cent of the total volume. They were followed by molluscs with 19.2 per cent and canned and ready-cooked products, which represented 12.3 per cent.
Meanwhile, in value, the main group of exported fish and shellfish was that of frozen fish, which represented 26.3 per cent of the total. Canned products and ready-cooked products were ranked further back, with 22.1 per cent, and 16.1 per cent in molluscs.
Also, ANFACO noted that the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) indicated that the national consumption of canned fish and shellfish products in households remained stable from 2004 to 2009.
The evolution of the consumption per capita of this type of products is the following:
- 2004: 3.95 kg per capita
- 2005: 3.96 kg per capita
- 2006: 4.00 kg per capita
- 2007: 3.94 kg per capita
- 2008: 3.95 kg per capita
- 2009: 3.95 kg per capita
The Secretary General of ANFACO, Juan Manuel Vieites, reiterated that it is necessary to activate the Strategic Plan to be able to carry out reforms that the Galician canning sector needs, which will make it able to play “in the same field as the others.”
With reference to the competitors of Southeast Asia, the official insisted that “neither the same sanitary, nor environmental nor labour conditions as the Community industry should be imposed on them.”
By Analia Murias
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member  ANFACO-CECOPESCA - Asociacion Nacional de Fabricantes de Conservas de Pescados y Mariscos-
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