The price dip was the result of a reduced consumer
demand, the effect of which was contained in the
captured fish sector by a downsizing of production.
These tendencies were refiected in the FAO fish price
index, which shows international fish prices sliding by
almost seven per cent in the first ten months of the year
compared with the same period in 2011.
World production of fish is forecast to rise by 1.3
per cent to 157.5 million tonnes in 2012, less than half
the five per cent expansion rate registered in 2011. The
increase this year would be entirely due to aquaculture,
while supplies from capture fisheries may decline
somewhat, as rising fuel costs and difficulty to pass
them down to customers limit the activity of the fishery
fieet.
International trade in fish and fishery products is
foreseen to expand by 2.5 per cent to 59.9 million
tonnes, live weight, as importers are expected to
take advantage of falling prices to step up purchases.
However, demand by the EU, the worlds largest
fish import market, has been weak due to economic
downturns in some southern European markets.
World fish consumption as food is now anticipated
to increase by 2.6 per cent in the course of the year,
prompting a 1.5 per cent gain in per capita food
consumption to 19.2 kg per year. All of the increase
would correspond to aquaculture fish, as intake of wild
fish is expected to decline somewhat, consistent with
the changes in the relative prices.
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Further ReadingYou can view the FAO Food Outlook November 2012: Global Fish Economy in 2012 - Overview report by clicking here. |
