Tight supplies and slow demand was expected to drive up cuttlefish prices in Spain this year, but a lower catch combined with lackluster demand have seen prices drop about 10 percent.
European or common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) — known as jíbia, sepia and choco in Spanish — is in high season from August to November, though the catch stretches from June to December. Spain is Europe’s largest frozen cuttlefish supplier, representing 99 percent of total European Union production. Spain is also the EU’s largest cuttlefish importer — from India (26 percent), Morocco (11 percent) and China (9.4 percent) — representing 47 percent of the bloc’s total. Imports from Namibia and Vietnam are becoming increasingly prevalent. Spanish cuttlefish imports have stabilized at around 50,000 metric tons (MT) per year.
Cuttlefish is common off Canary Islands waters, and in Ministry of Fisheries marine reserves at Badia de Palma, Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Isla de La Palma and Masía Blanca.
Spain’s consumption of fresh cuttlefish from wholesale markets and fishmongers has largely given way to the convenience of frozen purchases from supermarkets as larger retailers slowly gain market share.
The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization reports Europe’s cuttlefish prices remained high throughout 2011, “showing an overall strong move upward, with the tight supply situation prices should remain high or even increase, along with slow demand.” During the first quarter of 2012, cuttlefish prices increased in Spain due to tighter supplies, although Chinese imports had brought prices down in March.
Based on cumulative average prices for the six first months of 2012, Barcelona Central Fish Market (Mercabarna) quoted per-kilogram prices at EUR 5.70 (USD 6.94) for fresh cuttlefish, EUR 6.76 (8.24) for fresh peeled cuttlefish, EUR 5.93 (USD 7.23) for clean cuttlefish frozen in block, EUR 6.38 (USD 7.77) for clean cuttlefish frozen, treated with protective glazing and EUR 5.62 (USD 6.85) for frozen uncleaned cuttlefish.
Mercabarna expects to sell 5,300 MT this year, comprising fresh cuttlefish at 1,800 MT, frozen cuttlefish at 1,300 MT and semi-conserved cuttlefish 2,200 MT.
Operating in the Canary Islands with offices in Seville, Aframar Commercial Director Alejandro Martín Santana expects to sell 1,200 MT of cuttlefish to processors, wholesalers and distributors. “Catch has been 30 percent lower this year compared to other years, however, the average price has dropped 10 percent due to lack of demand,” he explained.
Daniel Sebastia Llana, manager at Congelados Sebastia in Valencia, echoed the mood. “Cuttlefish expectations for this year are difficult, there is very little fishing and every day the price is higher,” he said. “We have to compete with countries like Japan that pay higher prices and take the best quality. Our customers are mostly handling facilities and distributors, and we’re beginning to supply supermarkets and large chain stores. This is a very tough year for this sector. The banks do not help us, like our government, and profit margins have been greatly reduced.”
