The latest FAO May 2012 Food Outlook publication shows that the supply of farmed salmon is projected to grow around 12% in 2012, with exporters looking to new markets such as Brazil, Russia, China and India.
Shipments to these markets increased by 20% in 2011, reaching more than 210,00t.
Long-term growth in the EU and US markets is also positive, as are recent developments in the Japanese market.
Consumption of 2011 farmed salmon increased 7% in the EU, 10% in the US and 30% in Japan. The long-term prospects for fish consumption in Japan remain negative because of an ageing and stagnating population.
In Norway, production has risen 33% since 2008, with new growth projected for 2012.
Chile saw the strong production growth of 2011 continue during early 2012. Its 2011 salmon exports totalled almost 260,000t, up more than 50%. In value terms, the increase was even higher – 63%, totalling US$1.9bn.
South American countries now account for 32% of Chile’s exports, reaching 47,000t in 2011, with Brazil as the main market in the region.
