Challenges for world fish trade

1. Challenges for world fish trade by Helga Josupeit Fishery Industry Officer Rome, August 2009

2. Outline • Production • Trade • Recent developments in commodity trade • main issues for international fish trade

3. Outline • Production • Trade • Recent developments in commodity trade • main issues for international fish trade

4. Global fish production

5. Global fish production – by country

6. Capture fisheries production

7. Aquaculture production

8. Outline • Production • Trade • Recent developments in commodity trade • main issues for international fish trade

9. Fish exports

10. Russian exports versus total exports

11. Fish Exports in Value

12. Fish imports

13. Russian imports versus total imports

14. Russian fish trade

15. Outline • Production • Trade • Recent developments in commodity trade • main issues for international fish trade

16. SHRIMP • shrimp is the most important commodity traded worldwide, accounting for about 16% of total export value (of fishery products) • developing countries main source of supply • aquaculture very important • economic strongly felt by trade • low shrimp prices due to economic crisis

17. Tuna • tuna is the only concentrated industry among fisheries industry • share in total trade declining (8% at present) • in the press for resource management concerns and for mercury content • impact of economic crisis not felt

18. Groundfish • very traditional and well established industry • a lot of processing done in China • resource under stress for many species • however, cod resource returned in Barents Sea and in Atlantic off Canada • impact of economic crisis important

19. Cephalopods • very few consuming countries • important industry in a handful of countries • resource difficult to assess • prices up for squid, due to extremely low catch in 2009, but economic crisis put a brake to substantial price hikes

20. Fishmeal production down in 2008 and early 2009 El Niño year likely, which will lead to lower fishmeal production in 2010 Fishmeal

21. Fish oil prices follow fuel prices Less fish oil in 2009 Fish Oil

22. strong growth rate China dominates trade No trade in EU USA strong market Tilapia

23. Viet Nam main producer Trade growing very strongly Russia major importer problems of early 2009 resolved Pangasius

24. Salmon • expansion of production will come to an end in 2009, due to disease problems in Chile • aquaculture production extremely important • prices expected to go up

25. Outline • Production • Trade • Recent developments in commodity trade • main issues for international fish trade

26. Tariffs • Tariffs on fish reduced over time • Today: average tariff 4.5 % on fish imports by developed countries • Remaining problem 1: tariff escalation for processed products • Remaining problem 2: tariff peaks on some species • Remaining problem 3: less tariffs, more non-tariff barriers, formal and informal • For some countries: preference erosion • Discussions on formulas for reduction

27. Non Tariff Barriers • As import duties on fish in general have been much reduced, remaining barriers often relate to quality and safety. Therefore: the following WTO agreements are extremely important for fish products: • Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT • Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) • (these are not up for discussion on the Doha agenda)

28. Sanitary Regulation • HACCP-based fish safety and quality systems • improved safety and quality of fish and fishery products offered on the international markets • More transparency and harmonization among trading partners • integrated approach to safety and quality, taking into account the entire fish value chain • risk-based systems in importing economies

29. Labelling requirements • If countries wish to export to the European Union (EU) or to the USA, they must comply with certain import requirements; • traceability and • product labelling requirements

30. World Trade Organization • 153 members • All major fishery countries are members • except: Russian Federation • WTO Agreements regulate all trade between members

31. WTO and Fishery Specific issues • Fish is NOT classified as an agricultural product but as an industrial product • Fish NOT covered by Agreement on Agriculture • Fish trade treated as trade in industrial goods • Therefore: • Fish trade will benefit from general liberalization of trade and reduction of import duties

32. Certification Schemes • Environmental certification examines the level of sustainability of fisheries • Social certification examines the social provenance of products • Brands/branding

33. Environmental certification • Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) • Friends of the Sea (FoS) • Naturland • Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC)

34. Conclusions • Capture fish production is likely to decline • Aquaculture production is likely to grow further, though at lower path • International trade is impacted by economic crisis, especially high end products have problems

35. Conclusions • Russia is an important importer of fishery products, especially of pangasius and shrimp • Tariffs and non tariff barriers are a challenge for international trade, • WTO negotiations can help to overcome some of these. • Free Trade Agreements important