Initial indications for 2006 point to stronger lobster but weaker crawfish imports in key European markets

With final quarter figures still to be released, crawfish imports during 2006 in key European seafood markets are likely to have been well down on 2005 levels. French and Spanish crawfish imports during the January-September period are down 35% in volume terms while values are down almost 30% compared to the same period in 2005. These declines are, however, partially balanced by an increase in lobster imports, French volume imports increasing by 10% and Spanish imports up 21%. The decline in crawfish imports in both markets appears to support over-exploitation fears regarding certain stocks in the Caribbean region.

Weaker French crawfish imports from Caribbean

The drop in French crawfish imports during the first nine months of last year was largely due to a sharp decline in frozen product: total frozen volumes fell 40% to less than 1 000 tonnes while values fell 22% to €21 million. In contrast, live volume imports fell by just 11% to less than 250 tonnes while live values were stable at €5.5 million. Import unit values for both categories increased by around 13% suggesting an increase in crawfish euro prices during 2006.

Lower frozen French crawfish imports during 2006 resulted from reduced supplies from the Caribbean region, particularly from the Bahamas and Cuba. For the nine month period, imports from the Bahamas, the leading supplier of frozen crawfish to the French market, declined by around 40% while Cuba was down over 60%. Imports from Spain, on the other hand, showed a 12% increase.

The increase in French lobster imports during the first nine months of 2006 reflected increased frozen imports with volumes from Canada, the leading frozen supplier, up 70% on January-September 2005, to almost 1 000 tonnes. In the key live segment, imports were stable at 2 000 tonnes despite increased supplies from both the USA and Canada compared to the previous year.

Spanish frozen crawfish imports down 40%

Spain followed the French trend during the first nine months of 2006 with crawfish imports declining compared to the previous year particularly in relation to frozen product. Spanish frozen volume imports fell 40% to less than 1 200 tonnes while live imports were down 9%. As in France, the import decline in the frozen segment was due to lower Caribbean volumes with imports from Cuba, the leading supplier, almost halving, to just over 700 tonnes, compared with the first nine months of 2005.

The upward unit value price trend for crawfish imports is also in evidence in Spain although the increase, between 1 and 5% depending on the category, was lower than that for France.

Spanish lobster trade during the first nine months of 2006 showed somewhat stronger growth compared to France with volumes of both live and frozen imports up on the same period of 2005. The 12% increase in live imports was due largely to a 35% jump in volumes from the USA which more than balanced a 13% decline from Canada. On the other hand, Canada increased sales of frozen lobster to Spain, Spanish imports jumping by 30% to 270 tonnes over the period.

Italian live lobster imports from USA up 12%

The positive trend in European lobster imports was also evident in Italy during 2006 with volume and value increases in both the live and frozen segments. Total imports increased by 17% to just over 3 000 tonnes during the January-September period compared to the first nine months of 2005. In the key live segment, volumes increased by 5% thanks to a 12% lift in imports from the USA. The smaller frozen segment, on the other hand, more than doubled to 530 tonnes thanks to a two and a half fold increase from Canada, the dominant supplier.

Weak crawfish supplies to continue?

Industry comments suggest weak frozen lobster sales but stable import prices during December in certain north European markets. Notwithstanding these initial indications for December sales,2006 as a whole is likely to have been a relatively strong year for volume lobster imports in the main European seafood markets. European crawfish imports on the other hand have been weak and a recent scientific workshop on Caribbean stocks suggests no immediate pickup in supplies going into 2007.

Gerry O'Sullivan
© 2007 FAO