Latest figures released by Spain’s fisheries ministry reveal something of a dichotomy: while households’ overall fish consumption levels are down 0.7 percent, there’s been a 2.1 percent increase in spending over the period June 2011 to June 2012.
Fresh seafood, shellfish and crustacean suppliers needn’t be worried as household demand grew 3.2 percent over the period while demand for canned seafood was also up 2 percent.
A detailed breakdown of the statistics show that in June 2011, households consumed a total of 1.23 million kilograms of fish valued at EUR 8.79 million (USD 10.9 million) compared to 1.22 million kilograms in June 2012 valued at EUR 8.97 million (USD 11.2 million), representing the 0.7 percent decrease in consumption.
While Spanish consumers ate an average 8.79 kilograms of fish per person in June of last year, they ate an average 8.97 kilograms in June 2012, representing the 2.1 percent increase in spend. This translates into a 96.1 percent penetration rate within Spanish households — among the world’s highest recorded consumption levels.
By weight, Spanish households consumed 699,880 kilograms of fish in June 2011 of which 546,179 kilograms were fresh fish and 153,700 kilograms of frozen fish. Crustaceans and mollusks accounted for 343,240 kilograms while canned fish and mollusks stood at 188,605 kilograms.
By June 2012, fish consumption had fallen to 690,880 kilograms of which 541,652 kilograms were fresh fish and 149,227 kilograms of frozen fish. Crustaceans and mollusks accounted for 339,613 kilograms while canned fish and mollusks stood at 192,455 kilograms. This latter figure represents a 2 percent increase in 2012 over 2011.
In value terms, households bought EUR 4.61 million (USD 5.76 million) of fish in June 2011 of which EUR 3.66 million (USD 4.75 million) was fresh fish and EUR 958,161 (USD 1.19 million) of frozen fish. Crustaceans and mollusks accounted for EUR 2.57 million (USD 3.21 million) while canned fish and mollusks stood at EUR 1.6 million (USD 2 million).
By June 2012, overall spending on fish increased to EUR 4.68 million (USD 5.85 million) of which EUR 3.73 million (USD 4.46 million) was fresh fish and EUR 948,685 (USD 1.18 million) was frozen fish — this latter figure representing a 1 percent fall. Crustaceans and mollusks fell 0.2 percent to EUR 2.56 million (USD 3.19 million) while canned fish and mollusks enjoyed a healthy 7.4 percent increase to EUR 1.71 million (USD 2.13 million).
Statistics were compiled by the fisheries ministry Home Food Consumption Panel to determine real national demand and to offer a powerful analytical tool to the industry. Based on a sample of 12,000 households across the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands (excluding Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish enclaves on the Moroccan coast), participants were provided with a scanner or optical reader and product catalogue for items without a European Article Number. The equipment recorded daily purchases and automatically processed the data.
