December 24, 2009
Can Chilean salmon stay on top in Japan?
A smaller Chilean salmon production is expected, which implies lower exports to Japan and also a stronger competition from Norway in frozen salmon and trout.
However, the Trade Commission of Chile (ProChile) believes that the country will preserve its position as market leader.
In December 2008, Chile had a 92.7 per cent of the Japanese market share for Coho salmon and 93.15 per cent twelve months earlier. Its main competitors -with an overall market share of 6.41 %- are Russia, Canada and New Zealand.
Regarding to frozen whole trout there is more competition since Norway had a 13.66 per cent market share in 2008 and Chile had a participation of 83.95 per cent.
Chile is also the main supplier of frozen salmon fillets in Japan with an 81.5 per cent market share and followed by Norway with 11.9 per cent. By the end of 2008 a slight decrease in the Chilean frozen whole salmon and trout market share was observed, but it was compensated by a 2.04 per cent increase of the Chilean salmon fillets participation.
Given salmonids are traditionally grilled for breakfast in Japan, served as obento for lunch and used as main dish for dinner, as well as the fact that they are widely used for Sushi, Sashimi, and boiled/fried preparations, it's consumption is steady through the year, although it increases on Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to a Chilean Fisheries Under-Secretariat (Subpesca) report, Chile have exported 103.172 tonnes of frozen farmed fish to Japan as of Sept this year worth USD$ 525.4 million and exported 119.160 tonnes worth USD$ 453.9 million in the same period of 2008.
