January 23, 2017
 

Global octopus landings on the uptrend

Global octopus landings appear to be on an increasing trend, according to a FAO analysis.

FAO said that in 2015 landings increased by 6.7% compared with the previous year. Increases were registered in the major suppliers (Morocco, Mauritania and Mexico), while landings in Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Korea declined.

According to the Marine Affairs of Galicia, the value of octopus landings in Galicia, Spain, for the first half of 2016 exceeded €2.6 million (US$2.8 million), which is the highest level recorded since 2010. Even with significantly more product on the local market, prices have remained stable, FAO reported.

In 2015, Japan significantly increased its imports of octopus. Particularly in the first half of that year, imports increased 38.5%. However, during the first half of 2016, imports fell back by 15% to 24,500 tonnes. Main suppliers Morocco and Mauritania shipped less octopus to Japan during this period, while China increased shipments by almost 23%.

While Morocco reduced octopus shipments to Japan, it increased exports to another main market, Spain, whose octopus imports from Morocco went up by almost 17%. Imports from the second-largest supplier to Spain, Mauritania, went down by 12.5%. Total Spanish imports of octopus remained stable at 27,200 tonnes during the first half of 2016.

Octopus prices are expected to remain more stable, as the supply situation has improved, with some slight increases in global landings.