2. GLOBAL TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL FISH TRADE

The global trends in the fishery industry are more thoroughly described elsewhere, such as in the GLOBEFISH publications noted in Chapter 1. Here some general comments will be made on production, export and import.

Figure 1. Global production from marine and fresh water sources (million tonnes)

2.1 Global production

During the 1990s, global production increased by some 33 million tonnes. Of this, 25.9 million tonnes came from aquaculture, while about 6 million tonnes were from increased marine catches.

Table 1. Total production 1990-1999 (Yearbook commodity groups; quantity in ‘000 tonnes)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Total (world)	98 627	98 285	100 845	104 423	112 350	116 364	120 278	122 495	117 727	126 177
Brazil	802	790	771	747	771	753	793	832	811	775
India	3 795	4 045	4 233	4 546	4 738	4 906	5 258	5 379	5 245	5 352
Korea, Rep. of	2 843	2 514	2 697	2 649	2 701	2 688	2 772	2 596	2 354	2 423
Mexico	1 383	1 398	1 184	1 131	1 223	1 355	1 495	1 529	1 216	1 251
New Zealand	372	417	503	471	493	615	496	673	730	686
Norway	1 754	2 173	2 562	2 580	2 585	2 802	2 970	3 224	3 259	3 086
Poland	473	457	506	423	462	451	369	382	268	269
South Africa	538	501	697	566	528	579	443	519	564	592

Figure 2. Changes in production 1990-1999 among the eight countries (quantity; ‘000 tonnes)

Figure 2 shows the development of production for the eight target countries, with only Indian and Norwegian production increasing significantly. Further, the Indian production is substantially higher than the other countries. This might signify a level of sufficient domestic supplies.

2.2 Global exports

Global exports increased during the period 1990 to 1998, but total exports in 1998 were, however, lower than in 1999, probably due to the el Niño effect on Peru and the other Latin American countries.

Table 2. Global exports and imports of fishery products, 1990-1998

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Global exports
Quantity (tonnes)	16 755 745	16 943 584	17 141 707	19 348 246	22 006 601	21 901 151	22 594 008	23 507 567	21 724 150
Value (US$ ‘000s)	35 485 808	38 698 464	40 209 355	41 312 887	47 396 084	51 718 734	52 827 835	53 285 187	51 272 197
Global imports
Quantity (tonnes)	17 069 461	17 438 896	17 357 548	18 655 323	20 898 829	21 266 757	21 470 444	22 176 416	20 663 465
Value US$ ‘000s	39 476 466	43 470 866	45 355 495	44 712 025	51 115 425	56 118 640	57 229 020	56 590 668	54 987 702

Table 3 indicates the share of exports in global production, which is indicative of the fishery production available for domestic use. Total production increased from 103 million tonnes in 1990 to 127 million tonnes in 1998, and the quantity exported increased from 16.7 million tonnes to 22.7 million tonnes. Exports as a share of total production rose from 17% in the early 1990s to 19% in the period 1994-97, declining again to 18% in 1998. The increase in higher relative export nevertheless left the domestic markets with increased supplies, as can be seen from Table 3.

Table 3. Food supply for domestic use after export, 1990-1998 (quantity; ‘000 t)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Total Production	98 626.9	98 284.7	100 845.5	104 423.4	112 349.8	116 364.3	120 278.4	122 494.5	117 726.6
Export	16 755.7	16 943.6	17 141.7	19 348.2	22 006.6	21 901.2	22 594.0	23 507.6	21 724.2
Export as % of total prod.	17.0	17.2	17.0	18.5	19.6	18.8	18.8	19.2	18.5
Quantity left after export	81 871.1	81 341.1	83 703.8	85 075.1	90 343.2	94 463.2	97 684.4	98 986.9	96 002.5

2.3 Exports on a country basis

2.3.1 Exports per country in volume terms

During the 1990s, there were few changes among the ten largest exporting countries. Table 4 shows the ten largest exporting countries, ranked by 1998 values. It also includes the eight target countries, even though the exports of some of these countries is on a much smaller scale.

The ranking for 1998 in quantity shows that Norway was the largest exporter, with exports of 1.74 million tonnes. The republic of Korea was the 17th-largest exporter, with an export quantity of 561 000 t. For the other six countries, the figures were India, at No. 21, export quantity of 384 000 t; New Zealand, No. 23, 322 000 t; Mexico, No. 30, 168 000 t; Poland, No. 32, 157 000 t; South Africa, No. 34, 128 000 t; and Brazil, at No. 62, with an export quantity of 34 000 t.

The values in Table 4 are the basis for the analysis of the export (quantity) part for each country. They will not be repeated in the separate sections.

2.3.2 Export per country on a value basis

The ranking for 1998 in value terms (see Table 5) shows that Norway was the 2nd-largest exporter, with an export value of US$ 3 660 million, The Republic of Korea was the 14th-largest exporter, with an export value of US$ 1 250 million. The other six countries of the group were: India at No. 17 with exports worth US$ 1 130 million, Mexico at No. 24 with US$ 716 million, New Zealand at No. 25 with US$ 663 million, Poland at No. 38 with US$ 275 million, South Africa at No. 41 with US$ 244 million, and Brazil at No. 52 with an export value of US$ 123 million.

The values in Table 5 are the basis for the analysis of the export (value) part for each country. They will not be repeated in the separate sections.

Table 4. The ten largest exporting countries for fishery produce, and the eight target countries, ranked by 1998 values (quantity; tonnes)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Norway	807 037	1 016 607	1 073 498	1 255 893	1 392 540	1 505 028	1 670 470	1 809 473	1 738 300
Thailand	764 665	913 771	953 376	944 333	1 052 841	1 019 112	971 336	1 012 962	1 159 309
Denmark	721 659	869 280	905 504	909 972	972 091	1 046 322	1 099 016	1 082 112	1 079 673
Chile	1 262 354	1 296 907	1 336 490	1 259 171	1 564 265	1 746 963	1 475 105	1 345 423	1 045 204
Russia			531 734	1 137 955	1 444 211	1 240 063	1 271 316	1 183 760	973 205
China	369 952	380 198	470 469	500 900	626 744	678 073	740 217	849 049	936 595
USA	1 417 163	1 199 205	1 142 102	1 082 479	1 077 098	1 109 685	1 119 677	1 105 425	932 843
Peru	1 171 737	1 220 082	1 134 620	1 749 137	2 684 265	2 030 351	1 961 144	2 232 102	800 772
United Kingdom	469 099	548 635	596 962	595 493	583 175	572 692	578 792	603 713	752 500
Iceland	610 647	464 180	571 607	632 815	644 879	610 691	783 060	792 660	695 218
Korea, Rep. of	413 354	457 162	404 357	334 439	325 750	405 357	422 255	475 285	561 235
India	133 572	190 288	209 557	254 859	318 757	305 923	393 325	374 644	384 474
New Zealand	192 043	258 665	289 955	303 151	288 726	322 575	312 430	331 484	322 051
Mexico	97 562	90 517	64 431	67 032	60 320	162 367	212 637	205 936	168 719
Poland	129 444	123 867	213 320	157 951	201 116	179 087	206 024	198 757	157 206
South Africa	60 362	73 870	150 568	122 671	177 993	95 913	85 420	97 200	128 882
Brazil	36 269	48 199	49 201	54 760	43 904	28 770	26 494	31 125	34 611

NOTE: Shading indicates one of the eight countries covered in this report.
SOURCE: FAO Fishstat

Table 5. The ten largest exporting countries and the eight target countries, ranked by 1998 values (value in US$ ‘000s)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Thailand	2 264 937	2 901 360	3 071 780	3 404 268	4 190 036	4 449 457	4 117 865	4 329 541	4 031 279
Norway	2 059 784	2 282 247	2 436 832	2 302 346	2 718 132	3 122 662	3 415 696	3 399 229	3 661 174
Denmark	2 165 497	2 302 299	2 319 917	2 150 665	2 359 034	2 459 629	2 698 976	2 648 911	2 897 707
China	1 301 690	1 181 989	1 559 977	1 542 429	2 320 125	2 835 021	2 856 986	2 937 281	2 656 117
USA	3 019 861	3 281 746	3 582 545	3 179 474	3 229 585	3 383 589	3 147 858	2 850 311	2 400 338
Canada	2 269 802	2 168 121	2 085 494	2 055 438	2 182 078	2 314 413	2 291 261	2 270 725	2 265 236
Indonesia	978 650	1 186 062	1 178 552	1 419 492	1 583 416	1 666 752	1 678 222	1 620 628	1 628 494
Chile	866 397	1 066 925	1 252 364	1 124 679	1 303 974	1 704 260	1 697 211	1 781 805	1 596 800
Taiwan, Pr. China	1 274 576	1 329 660	1 626 125	2 148 421	1 804 050	1 809 166	1 762 136	1 779 800	1 579 836
Korea, Rep. of	1 361 231	1 490 127	1 358 143	1 334 207	1 409 933	1 564 380	1 509 062	1 376 152	1 245 858
India	467 354	647 652	673 369	835 980	1 125 440	1 040 671	1 115 963	1 127 733	1 134 635
Mexico	359 829	396 896	316 799	430 774	480 872	707 748	738 980	825 133	715 955
New Zealand	438 834	556 218	654 533	648 253	691 926	813 897	815 649	830 470	663 614
Poland	184 851	189 938	249 397	203 158	251 654	260 518	271 079	228 574	274 573
South Africa	117 393	154 559	181 239	199 030	255 996	242 284	201 620	219 054	244 248
Brazil	140 099	157 328	170 808	191 633	178 548	160 133	133 876	126 477	122 831

SOURCE: FAO Fishstat

2.4 Global imports

The values for imports naturally reflect those for exports, but the major countries are different.

Among the largest import countries we find, not surprisingly, Japan followed by the United States of America and Spain. The next most important importer countries are all members of the European Union, which makes the EU the single largest import area, with imports worth US$ 21 000 million, for a quantity of 722 million tonnes.

Figure 3. Total global seafood imports, 1990-1998

As the figures suggest, there has been an increase in the trade in fish and fish products in the last half of the decade. The rise began in 1994, before the WTO agreements came into effect.

As with the tables for export figures, these numbers are the basis for the analyses in the country sections, but will not be repeated in those chapters.

Table 6. Ten largest importers and the eight target countries, ranked by 1998 values (quantity; tonnes)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Japan	2 441 769	2 755 729	2 881 477	3 031 250	3 193 683	3 481 081	3 351 603	3 308 233	2 998 964
USA	1 387 319	1 407 614	1 338 242	1 647 885	1 580 694	1 409 202	1 446 378	1 531 029	1 653 080
Spain	845 482	908 440	813 936	1 026 543	991 867	1 006 637	1 048 622	1 114 998	1 251 614
China	365 439	783 703	1 032 381	936 362	1 253 766	1 324 825	1 367 078	1 484 020	1 108 308
Germany	1 099 929	1 014 611	1 010 467	941 259	1 119 992	1 066 284	1 070 021	1 100 749	1 091 244
France	840 028	842 343	867 396	848 608	887 452	887 220	918 664	919 414	983 333
UK	934 540	883 752	838 696	828 037	892 270	836 646	841 452	881 797	825 666
Italy	722 871	758 992	724 457	696 642	714 249	683 713	720 931	737 444	754 668
Denmark	492 375	490 514	499 834	531 594	606 520	605 026	644 263	687 648	748 983
Thailand	513 431	722 520	707 978	757 368	964 024	915 850	786 785	698 139	714 188
Norway	192 710	280 764	303 371	365 839	399 712	533 131	566 426	638 592	594 509
Korea, Rep. of	282 175	358 640	319 170	351 695	375 623	407 320	515 943	508 467	360 462
Poland	159 353	100 154	164 739	177 888	208 429	196 770	221 994	247 067	274 286
Brazil	172 763	143 596	87 357	160 723	163 742	214 421	297 890	212 089	197 542
Mexico	87 299	77 389	71 258	130 622	143 808	107 859	95 153	97 706	66 868
South Africa	212 240	225 839	177 440	140 417	275 917	324 569	148 324	213 432	52 577
New Zealand	14 520	15 673	17 025	16 356	16 771	23 989	27 452	11 742	21 430
India	187	1 173	1 509	3 428	7 555	11 649	10 237	15 205	17 418

SOURCE: FAO Fishstat

Table 7. Ten largest importers and the eight target countries, ranked by 1998 values (value in US$ ‘000s)

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Japan	10 668 291	12 085 125	12 831 760	14 187 149	16 140 465	17 853 481	17 023 945	15 539 507	12 826 543
USA	5 573 241	5 999 580	6 024 064	6 290 233	7 043 431	7 141 428	7 080 411	8 138 840	8 578 766
Spain	2 360 653	2 748 304	2 898 232	2 629 799	2 638 737	3 105 684	3 134 893	3 069 601	3 545 751
France	2 809 033	2 925 994	2 934 588	2 556 151	2 796 719	3 221 298	3 194 133	3 062 051	3 505 333
Italy	2 458 086	2 689 639	2 643 440	2 131 181	2 257 462	2 281 316	2 590 985	2 571 868	2 808 587
Germany	1 899 729	2 114 720	2 190 892	1 884 301	2 316 449	2 478 817	2 542 957	2 362 914	2 623 741
UK	1 911 161	1 911 905	1 906 861	1 628 852	1 880 350	1 910 091	2 065 025	2 141 619	2 384 028
Denmark	1 116 108	1 148 255	1 197 370	1 094 253	1 415 239	1 573 732	1 618 669	1 521 062	1 704 234
China (Hong Kong SAR)	1 111 938	1 232 075	1 398 180	1 376 856	1 647 106	1 831 511	1 928 143	2 096 894	1 611 747
Netherlands	769 525	867 511	888 606	791 608	1 017 635	1 191 857	1 141 647	1 107 443	1 230 199
Norway	237 376	307 051	346 048	310 352	322 087	490 383	535 642	562 133	674 766
Korea, Rep. of	364 738	568 229	498 036	537 346	718 451	824 817	1 054 095	1 017 873	562 208
Brazil	194 614	192 783	133 508	200 567	261 453	397 574	481 550	483 598	455 250
Poland	42 418	39 100	102 455	128 633	170 956	183 965	240 180	262 209	322 730
Mexico	62 954	53 245	73 646	128 026	158 627	89 832	81 720	113 596	98 216
South Africa	130 815	141 433	115 443	90 197	134 565	155 406	126 823	153 457	76 505
New Zealand	35 567	38 356	34 684	35 515	40 315	57 537	58 763	26 182	52 106
India	270	1 439	1 897	4 638	6 618	13 744	10 614	18 412	17 692

SOURCE: FAO Fishstat