Japan's imports of squid are decreasing
In 2017, Japan' s imports of cephalopod decreased compared to the prior year. Only 59,000 MT were imported last year, down 32% from the figures reported in 2016. In terms of value, the volume is estimated to be worth $356 million, down 41% compared to 2016.
Japan is still the fourth largest importer of cephalopod in the world but the volume of imports is declining since 2012 due to a reduced global production of octopus and the trend is expected to continue in 2018, informs Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Processed squid worth $274.3 million, followed by processed octopus ($80.3 million), frozen squid ($1.4 million) and frozen octopus ($82,000.) were the main cephalopod products imported by Japan. From 2016 to 2017, the value of processed squid has seen a dramatic increase by 619%. On the other hand, froze squid and frozen octopus have been confronted with a decrease of value by 99% and 100%, respectively.
Only 12 countries exported cephalopod to Japan in 2017, while the figure in 2016 was 17. According to the statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC), in 2017, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Peru, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Spain, India, Chile, Myanmar and Malaysia were 12 countries supplying cephalopod to this market. Only China, Peru, South Korea and Spain posted the positive growth of 62%, 896%, 2,757% and 66%, respectively in the export value to this market over 2016.
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