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June Seafood Export Stats: Salmon, Trout Plunge 70%
August 4, 2009
According to (preliminary) seafood export statistics for June tallied by the Japan Fish Traders Association, total export amounts reached 41,003 tons (89.3 percent year over year) and a total value was \16 billion (80 percent). An average unit price per kg marked \390, or 89.6 percent of the same month a year ago. It was due to tremendous decreases in amounts of live sea bream (52.5 percent), salmon/trout (27.3 percent), and mackerel (44.6 percent).
Sea bream, which is mainly exported live to South Korea, was reduced in half to 337 tons, or 52.5 percent; and the unit price plummeted to \601.9 (94.5 percent). The export amount of salmon and trout also drastically declined to 870 tons (27.3 percent); and their unit price was \193.7 (83.6 percent). 6,312 tons (44.6 percent) of mackerel was exported; and its unit price nosedived to \91.4 (82.2 percent), compared to the previous month.
In contrast, though the unit price of amberjack was low at \1,577 (97.6 percent), its transaction amount grew to 2,857 tons (136.2 percent). Other than amberjack, the following fish varieties exhibited increases: albacore 7,571 tons (1083.8 percent); yellowfin tuna 504 tons (208.8 percent); saury 3,590 tons (100.9 percent); squid 1,888 tons (115 percent); sea squirt 1,098 tons (333.9 percent); and cooked mackerel 271 tons (222.8 percent). They all managed to increase export amounts; however, a unit price of each item plunged.
A total seafood export quantity for the first half year (from January through June) resulted in 90 percent; a total value 76.2 percent; and an average unit price per kg 84.7 percent. A 10 percent reduction in export amount and a decline of 10.5 percent in unit price are reflecting the undesirable circumstance where asking prices of trading partner countries continue to not be met due to unfavorable exchange rates.
| Item | Seafood Export Stats for June 2009 |
| | Amount (kg) | Value (¥1,000) | Price per kg (¥) |
| Live |
Sea Bream
Year to year comparison | 337,750
52.5% | 203,282
49.6% | 601.9
94.5% |
| Fresh, Chilled, Frozen |
Salmon/Trout
Year to year comparison | 870,403
27.3% | 168,625
22.8% | 193.7
83.6% |
Albacore Tuna
Year to year comparison | 7,571,310
1083.8% | 1,748,896
1005.5% | 231
92.8% |
Yellowfin Tuna
Year to year comparison | 504,281
208.8% | 102,452
149.2% | 203.2
71.5% |
Big-eyed Tuna
Year to year comparison | 450,487
74.3% | 143,405
69.8% | 318.3
94% |
Marlin
Year to year comparison | 46,727
50.5% | 13,304
66.2% | 284.7
131.1% |
Bonito
Year to year comparison | 2,909,867
73.7% | 302,774
44.1% | 104.1
59.8% |
Cod
Year to year comparison | 4,349,045
92.7% | 501,240
63.9% | 115.3
69% |
Mackerel
Year to year comparison | 6,312,862
44.6% | 576,922
36.6% | 91.4
82.2% |
Saury
Year to year comparison | 3,590,953
100.9% | 576,922
70.7% | 91.4
70.1% |
Sea Bream
Year to year comparison | 3,984
7.7% | 828
10.8% | 207.8
139.6% |
Amberjack
Year to year comparison | 285,738
136.2% | 450,866
132.9% | 1,577.9
97.6% |
Crab
Year to year comparison | 146,479
68.4% | 152,727
71.9% | 1042.7
106.1% |
Scallop
Year to year comparison | 770,711
96.7% | 752,493
84.3% | 976.4
87.1% |
Squid
Year to year comparison | 1,888,409
115% | 244,242
104.2% | 129.3
90.7% |
Sea Squirt
Year to year comparison | 1,098,750
333.9% | 222,485
316.1% | 202.5
94.7% |
| Prepared Products |
Mackerel
Year to year comparison | 271,638
222.8% | 37,284
127.8% | 137.3
57.4% |
Kneaded Fish Products
Year to year comparison | 519,415
77.2% | 439,196
83.1% | 845.6
107.7% |
Scallop
Year to year comparison | 57,865
56.1% | 214,643
50.7% | 3709.4
90.4% |
Abalone
Year to year comparison | 533
17.8% | 24,176
13% | 45,358.3
73.1% |
Dried Laver
Year to year comparison | 41,597
68.2% | 87,230
58.4% | 2,097
85.6% |
Fishmeal
Year to year comparison | 118,000
81.9% | 8,189
74.5% | 69.4
90.9% |
Pearl
Year to year comparison | 3,634
76.6% | 3,253,619
68% | 895,327.2
88.8% |
Grand Total
Year to year comparison | 41,003,319
89.3% | 16,026,739
80% | 390.9
89.6% |
The original article was published on August 4, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
June Restaurant Sales Stats: Consumer Frugality Causes Sales Drop
August 3, 2009
The June sales statistics of all stores of member restaurant companies tallied by the Japan Foodservice Association indicated a 2.6 percent drop year over year, falling short of the last year's performance for the first time in three months. Compared to the previous year, there was one fewer vacation day and it rained a great deal in Tokyo this year.
The number of customers displayed a one percent decline and the amount spent by each customer also slumped 1.6 percent. These drops were apparently contributed by growing consumer frugality and a temporary slow-down of fast food chain restaurants due to a backlash against the previous year's campaign. The number of stores indicated a 0.1 percent increase.
By category, fast food restaurants' sales went down by 0.7 percent; the number of restaurants increased 2.1 percent; the number of customers shrank 0.3 percent; and an average customer spending reduced 0.4 percent. Of them, noodle chain stores favorably exhibited a sales increase of 11.5 percentage points with the contributing factors of the increased number of restaurants and the resultant rise in the number of customers. Family restaurants reported a 3.1 percent reduction in sales, as well as losses in both average customer spending and the number of customers by 2.7 and 0.5 percent respectively; of which, Chinese chain restaurants enjoyed growth with a 0.3 percent sales increase, resulting from a rise in the number of customers.
The original article was published on August 3, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
June Surimi Import Stats: Noticeable Plunge in Unit Prices
July 31, 2009
Based on foreign trade statistics by the Ministry of Finance, the import amount of golden threadfin bream surimi for the month of June ran up to 5.514 tons with a three percent fall. Its import unit price was \210 per kg, indicating a 52 percent decline. Both Thai surimi and Indian surimi grew 40 and 20 percent respectively.
6,572 tons of Alaskan pollack surimi was imported from the US, exhibiting a seven-fold increase from the same period last year. The import unit price fell 21 percent to \350.
The original article was published on July 31, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
June Seafood Import Stats Report 17% Fall to \110.7B
July 31, 2009
Despite Increases in Boito and Octopus, Unit Prices Fall Greatly
According to foreign trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, a total seafood import amount for the month of June came to 219,437 tons, or a 12 percent decline from the same time last year. Though bonito, octopus, pollack surimi, and BBQ eel exhibited increases in their amounts, yellowfin tuna, salmon/trout, squid, crab, and fish meat plummeted drastically. Additionally, the unit prices of bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, bonito, cod roe, octopus, and pollack surimi sharply dropped, resulting in a decreased total import amount of \110.7 billion, down 17.1 percent.
Yellowfin tuna marked a 16.4 percent decline to 5,367 tons; its unit price per kg was \366, or a 24.9 percent fall. Bigeye tuna increased 5.1 percentage points to 6,947 tons; the unit price contracted 20.1 percent, resulting in \686. Bonito indicated a large increase of 60.8 percent to 7,883 tons; however, its unit price dropped 33.6 percentage points to \117.
Salmon and trout ran up to 12,296 tons, or an 18.1 percent fall; of which, Chilean coho salmon registered a 29 percent decrease to 2,188 tons; trout (mainly Chilean and Norwegian) was 4,290 tons, down 19 percent. There were rises in the unit prices of Chilean coho salmon and trout, by 14 and 16 percent respectively.
Pollack surimi increased upwards by three and a half times (6,664 tons), in comparison to the same period last year; however, its unit price contracted 22.2 percent. There was an 8.4 percent increase in the amount of cod roe to 8,071 tons; nonetheless, the unit price plunged 30 percent. Octopus grew 10.9 percent to 4,678 tons; but its unit price shot down by 44.8 percent. The transaction amounts of crab, squid, and fish meat all suffered losses by 44, 16.5, and 27.3 percent respectively.
At the peak season for eel, live eel displayed a 12.1 percent contraction; however, a doubled amount of BBQ eel, especially from China, totaling 4,376 tons, was imported. The unit price of live eel showed a 15 percent decline, and BBQ eel 30 percent.
The original article was published on July 31, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
June Hokkaido Surimi Production Declines 60% to 1,500t
July 31, 2009
According to the National Surimi Association, the total onshore surimi production amount in Hokkaido for the month of June, which constitutes other varieties besides Alaskan pollack produced at seven onshore plants, came to 1,500 tons, indicating a decrease of 61 percentage points from the corresponding month last year. The aggregate quantity from January to June amounted to 14,904 tons, exhibiting a large plunge of 37 percent.
The June production amount consisted of Alaskan pollack, 520 tons (down 79 percent year over year) and atka mackerel, 965 tons (down 29 percent). The accumulative amount from January through June comprised 11,389 tons of Alaskan pollack (down 29 percent) and 3,434 tons of atka mackerel (down 55 percent).
As of the end of June, the surimi inventory amount at onshore plants in Hokkaido remained similar to that of last year, maintaining a recent years' average; of which, Alaskan pollack was 2,008 tons (down 4 percent) and atka mackerel recorded 1,062 tons (up nine percent).
The original article was published on July 31, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
Kyokuyo's 1Q: Operating Earnings Decline 30%
July 29, 2009
Kyokuyo announced consolidated results for the first quarter (April thru June 2009) as follows: sales of \33.875 billion (down 7.6 percent year over year); operating earrings of \723 million (down 26.9 percent); ordinary profit of \778 million (down 18.8 percent); and net profit of \357 million (down 37.5 percent).
In Seafood Trading, the transaction amount of high-end commodities declined due to domestic and international slumping economies. The company said, "Though the transaction amount of shrimp, whose price is staying low, increased and we focused on the sales expansion of low priced commodities, we ended in losses in both sales and profit."
Processed Foods Business reported a sales increase, resulting from the efforts of KUE in Thailand to secure profit gains by selling sushi related products to the US, as well as the favorable sales of reasonably priced deep-fried fish products.
Room Temperature Foods Operation marked increases in both sales and profit, with contributing factors associated with the growth in sales of canned products due to measures against H1N1 Flu and a growing consumer preference for dining in, as well as a new consolidated subsidiary, JOKKI.
As a result of the Department of Skipjack and Tuna Business' focus on the expansion of restaurant sales channels, "though sales went below the last year's result owing to the slumping domestic market, we performed better than last year in terms of profit."
Overseas Purse Seining Operation suffered losses in sales and profit, as consequences of a decline in catch amounts, a plummet in bonito prices, and an increase in repair costs.
The earnings forecasts for the second quarter and the full year have not changed since an announcement on May 15.
The original article was published on July 29, 2009 and was translated by Kiyo Hayasaka.
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