First quarter export and import trends in 2011 were positive in most of the international and domestic markets. Last year, world export value of tilapia surpassed USD 1 billion.
The emphasis placed on the need for Brazil to step up its tilapia industry at the recent World Aquaculture Society conference in Natal only confirms the popularity of this fish and its growing demand in Brazil’s domestic market.
Asia
Malaysia
Fresh fish prices have increased drastically since June as a result of a recent boycott by local trawler operators in response to the government’s decision to reduce the diesel subsidy. In traditional wet markets around Kuala Lumpur, fish prices increased by around 30% compared with the previous month. This has led to increased demand for freshwater fish in the domestic market, including tilapia. In a related development, the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) is currently stepping up co-operation with the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) in an effort to set up more farmers’ markets for fishers and fish farmers in the country. Currently, there are about 500 farmers’ markets throughout Malaysia and FAMA plans to increase this number to 1 000 under the country’s 10th Malaysian Plan. Much of the freshwater fish supplies in Malaysia, including tilapia, are sold to consumers through these farmers markets. The move would help to increase their income and also enable consumers to obtain their supply of fresh fish at a cheaper price.
Taiwan Province of China
In response to the economic recovery in major Asian markets, prices of tilapia in Taiwan Province of China recovered this year following the significant drop in 2009, sources from the industry said. The earthquake in Japan is also reported to have increased the demand for tilapia, pushing prices up to USD 1.4/kg from USD 0.55/kg in 2009. Major markets for Taiwanese tilapia are the USA, the EU, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the Middle East. Over the past year, Taiwan PC has been increasing supplies to the US market. One prominent feed producer, Grobest, is currently developing an organic tilapia supply line for the European market, through its subsidiary Thailand Tilapia, based in Thailand. At the moment Grobest mainly supplies the US market.
