Understanding Australia's Seafood Import Market

1. AUSTRALIA Brief Overview by Norman Grant Chairman - Seafood Importers Association of Australasia Inc

2. AUSTRALIA Small Market • 22 million people > 35 million by 2050 • per capita seafood consumption currently less than 20kg Small Local Production • fisheries 175,000 mt* *unprocessed weight • aquaculture = 70,000 mt* • less exports 45,000 mt* Seafood Imports Major Portion • over 200,000 mt** value = AUD$1 billion **mostly processed weight • estimate 75% of seafood consumed is now imported

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5. AUSTRALIA Where We Import From

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7. AUSTRALIA Supply Trends • Decline is supply of uncooked shrimp due to new quarantine restrictions introduced in 2007 • Growth in popularity of Basa (Pangasius)and Barramundi (Latescalcarifer) fillets from Vietnam • Continued strength in supply of canned fish (tuna, salmon) and canned crustaceans (shrimp, crabs) • Decline in shrimp imports from India

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10. AUSTRALIA Consumer Market • Most popular species: Shrimp (wild and farmed) Atlantic salmon (Salmosalar) Basa (Pangasiusspp) Hoki (Macruronusnovaezelandiae) Hake (Merlucciinaespp) Barramundi (Latescalcarifer) Squid and octopus (various species) Most Australians only know a few species. So there is a lot of consolidation around this narrow range. • The market is very seasonal for some products - summer best.

11. AUSTRALIA Distribution • Retail and foodservice about 50/50. • High end foodservice (white table cloth restaurants) dominated by local species. Budget restaurants and take-ways mostly use imported. • Fishmonger retailers use mostly local. Supermarkets use mostly imported. • Trade market is dominated by several large distributors in each State. • Many smaller distributors beginning to emerge. • Trade market is strongly price driven.

12. AUSTRALIA Essentials • Food safety and quarantine controls are inflexible. Refer to Australian Quarantine & Inspections Service (AQIS) website for import conditions. This system is known as ICON. • B2B QA certifications. • You must have a traceability system. • You must pack 100% net weight as stated on the label. • You must use the correct fish name - refer to Australian Fish Names database. • You must establish a sound relationship with a local importer /distributor. Most seafood trade is still the result of personal business.

13. AUSTRALIA Specific Quarantine Restrictions Since 2007: • Uncooked whole shrimp are prohibited. • Uncooked cutlets (tail-on) and peeled meat will be held for testing in Australia for WSSV and YHD. A positive test will result in no entry. • Every batch (one pond or one day’s production) is tested separately. • Highly processed shrimp products (marinated, breaded, dim sum, etc) can avoid disease testing if imported under permit. Stringent conditions apply. • The only exceptions are for countries free of these diseases or where ‘compartmentalization’ is approved. • Cooked shrimp must have a declaration by a competent authority that they have been cooked in approved premises to specific time/temperature requirements.

14. AUSTRALIA Opportunities • Generally no tariffs/duties on seafood imported for human consumption. • India has approved competent authorities enabling the use of Health Certificates to reduce food safety testing and costs. • The Australian trade market is significantly price-driven. If you are price-competitive, this may provide the foothold you need to get started. • The range of value-added seafood products in Australia is currently small compared to other markets. • Some of the biggest categories of migrants and visitors to Australia are from India. This may assist in brand recognition.

15. AUSTRALIA Competent Authorities approved by AQIS • Export Inspection Agency • Ministry of Commerce • Livestock and Marine Products Inspection / Certification Laboratory, Government of Kerala