France: Seafood Annual Report
AGR Number: FR5069

From: AMERICAN EMBASSY, PARIS
To: USDA/FAS Washington D.C.
Country: FR
Year: 1995
Report Code: 54 Post Report Sequence Number: 002
Report Title: Seafood
Report Type: A - Annual Report
Report Subject: Seafood Annual Report
Approved By: Mattie R. Sharpless
Drafted By: Marie Cecile Damave
Security Classification: UNCLASSIFIED - NOT OFFICIAL USDA DATA
Date Due (MM/DD/YY): 09/15/95

Report Code: FR9554A
AGR Number: FR5069
Page: 1
Seafood

        General Summary


France is the fourth largest EU seafood producing country, following Denmark, Spain, and the United Kingdom. French seafood production in 1995 is estimated to remain stable at 820,000 MT, including three quarters wild catch and one quarter aquaculture production.

French consumption of seafood in 1995 is estimated to also remain stable at 1.13 million MT, including approximately 70 percent household consumption and 30 percent institutional use. Although
French consumption of frozen seafood products increased in the past several years, French consumers' preference is for fresh products.

French seafood production only covers half of its domestic demand. France, a net seafood importer, is the third largest worldwide, following Japan and the United States. In 1994, French imports of
seafood were valued at FF 15 billion, mainly imported from the United Kingdom and Norway. During the same time, French exports of seafood amounted to FF 4.9 billion, and shipments were mainly destined to Spain. According to French Customs data, French imports of seafood
during the first five months of 1995 increased by 14 percent, to FF 4.6 billion, while exports increased by 12 percent, to FF 1.4 billion, compared with the same period of 1994.

The United States was France's sixth leading supplier of seafood in 1994, with U.S. imports amounting to four percent in value. French imports from the United States consisted mainly of frozen finfish species, such as salmon, monkfish, dogfish, and skate.


Please note that the average exchange rate for 1994 was 1 U.S.D = 5.55 FF. During January to August 1995, the average exchange rate was 1 U.S.D. = 5.01 FF.

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AGR Number: FR5069
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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

Global Economic Data Exchange System

Commodity: Total Edible Fishery Prods. (0300000) (METRIC TONS)
Beg. Month/Year of Marketing Year:  01/94, 01/95, 01/96

Report Code: FR9554A
AGR Number: FR5069
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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, PRODUCTION, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

PRODUCTS

General

The new 1994 estimate of 820,507 MT for the "total landings" line item in the total edible seafood PS&D is unchanged from the previous estimate submitted in semi-annual report FR9554B (March 28, 1995). According to preliminary data provided by the French Intervention and Market Organization Fund for Seafood Products and Aquaculture(FIOM), the 1995 estimate for "total landings" is nearly the same as in 1994 at 820,000 MT. This figure will probably be revised in the next semi-annual report, as the current 1995 estimate has been extrapolated from FIOM's monthly data on the amount of seafood sold only on the auction markets during the first half of 1995.

In France, most of the wild seafood catch is sold on the auction market, or "La Criee," which can be found in each port. The quantity of seafood sold at these auction markets is easy to estimate, thanks
to daily records that are maintained at each port, and are published monthly by FIOM. However, the rest of the wild catch that is not sold on the auction market is difficult to estimate; firm data on this
amount are published with a one year lag. According to FIOM's monthly estimates, the amount of seafood products sold on the auction markets during the first half of 1995 amounted to 139,146 MT, compared with 140,240 MT during the same period of 1994.

According to trade sources, as much as 25 percent of total French landings are ultimately "lost" due to the amount of fish discarded during the head cutting and evisceration processes.

Production Mix

Due to more recent data provided by the French Canners Federation (CFC), the new 1994 estimate for canned seafood production was revised down slightly by 3.6 percent to 115,617 MT. Otherwise, there were no changes in the new PS&D estimates for 1994 from the old PS&D estimates in FR9554B. French production of canned seafood in Calendar Years
(CY) 1993 and 1994 was broken down by the following species (in MT):

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, PRODUCTION, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

Data on French production of frozen seafood is usually provided by the French Freezing Federation (FICUR). Their last available estimates are for 1993 production, totaling 99,861 MT. No major changes in production occurred in 1994, so frozen seafood production was estimated at 100,000 MT.

According to FICUR, French production of frozen seafood products was broken down as follows in 1993 (in MT, product weight):

1. Products for direct consumption 70,542 MT
Of which:
- Breaded Seafood Products 31,279 MT
- Finfish, Crustaceans, and Mollusks 36,530 MT
- Aquaculture Products 2,733 MT

2. Products for Processing 29,319 MT
Of which:
- Finfish, Crustaceans, and Mollusks 27,983 MT
- Aquaculture Products 1.336 MT

Grand Total 99,861 MT

Fresh and cured production data were estimated as residuals, since there is no official organization in France which publishes this information.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

FISHERY PRODUCTS

General

French domestic consumption of seafood includes household consumption as well as institutional use. Data on the former is provided by the French Consumer Survey Agency (SECODIP), while data on the latter is provided by FIOM, after a lag of one year. In the PS&D for total seafood products, total French consumption data for 1994 and 1995 were both estimated at 1,130,000 MT, a marginal increase over FIOM's 1993 estimate for total consumption of 1,127,600 MT, which included 815,000 MT for household consumption and 312,600 MT for institutional use.

In 1994, French per capita consumption of seafood products was estimated at 17.7 Kg per year, a decrease from 19 Kg in 1993. Institutional use, however, increased slightly in 1994 from 1993,
offsetting an overall decline in consumption. According to SECODIP, French household consumption of total seafood products (wild catch as well as aquaculture) during the last five years comprised the following (in 1,000 MT):

1. Consumption of Fresh/Cured Seafood:

Total in 1,000 MT

Of which (%):

Note: Cephalopods include squid and cuttlefish.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

Total fresh/cured seafood consumption was relatively stagnant from 1990 to 1992, but then increased six percent in 1993 and remained stable in 1994. During this five-year period, French consumption of fresh shellfish increased at the expense of fresh finfish consumption.

2. Consumption of Frozen Seafood

Cumulative Consumption Issues/Sub-Aggregate Consumption Issues

1. Fresh Seafood

According to FIOM and SECODIP, French household consumption of fresh finfish amounted to 154,678 MT, product weight, in 1994, an increase of two percent from 151,704 MT in 1993. Prepacked finfish accounted for 1.6 percent of total French household purchases in 1994, up from 1.4 percent in 1993. The breakout of French household purchases in 1993 and 1994 was as follows(in MT):

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

Although the drop in fresh water finfish consumption looks significant, total finfish consumption still increased from 1993 to 1994 due to the increase in the proportionally much larger sea finfish
category. The consumption of whole salmon, as opposed to fillets, and sole, in particular, has increased steadily over the last few years.

The total quantity of sea finfish purchased by French households in 1993 and 1994 was broken down as follows (in MT):

NOTE: P.W. stands for product weight, and W.F.W.E. stands for whole fish weight equivalent. The conversion factors used to convert product weight into whole fish weight equivalent are as follows:
-Steaks: 1.5
- Fillets: 2.5
- Cured (including smoked, dried, and salted): 3.0
- Frozen: 2.5

The leading species of fresh sea finfish consumed by French households were as follows in 1993 and 1994 (percentage of market share):

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

NOTE: Pollock/coalfish includes the following species:
Theragra chalcogramma, Pollachius pollachius, and Pollachius virens.

Whole finfish:

Buoyed by the decrease in retail prices from 1993 to 1994, and the increase in both the number of buyers and the size of their average purchases during the same period, the French market for fresh sea finfish increased six percent in 1994 from 1993, in volume.

In 1994, the main species purchased whole were sole (13 percent of the total fresh whole finfish market), salmon (12 percent), sardines(10 percent), whiting (8 percent), and mackerel (7 percent).

Finfish Steaks:  

From 1993 to 1994, the French market for fresh finfish steaks remained relatively stable overall, with increased purchases of salmon, monkfish, and cod, and decreased purchases of pollock/coalfish, skate, dogfish, and tuna.

In 1994, the main species purchased in steaks were cod (21 percent of the total fresh finfish steak market), salmon (18 percent), pollock/coalfish (14 percent), tuna (12 percent), and skate (12 percent).

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

Finfish Fillets:

The French market for fresh finfish fillets increased by two percent in 1994 from 1993. Compared to 1993, French purchase of cod fillets and whiting fillets increased in 1994, while purchases of pollock
fillets decreased.

In 1994, the main species purchased in fillets were whiting (22 percent of the total fresh finfish fillet market), pollock/coalfish (21 percent), cod (17 percent), ling (Molva spp., 7 percent), and
Macrourus berglax ("Grenadier" in French, 4 percent).

Crustaceans:

According to data from SECODIP and FIOM, French households purchased 27,126 MT, product weight, of crustaceans in 1994, a decrease of 10 percent compared with 1993, due to the average six percent increase in the retail prices, especially for shrimp.

2. Frozen Seafood

From 1986 to 1994, French consumption of frozen seafood increased by 37 percent, reflecting the trend among French consumers of purchasing food products that are geared toward convenience. The greatest increase in consumption was for prepared meals, as well as for crustaceans and shellfish. From 1993 to 1994, however, total French household consumption of frozen seafood decreased by three percent, mainly due to smaller per capita purchases.

French consumption of frozen seafood was broken down as follows in 1993 and 1994 (in MT, product weight):

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

French purchases of frozen fish fillets increased by three percent in 1994, due to the decrease in retail prices. In 1994, 51.1 percent of French consumers purchased frozen fish fillets, up from 49.6 percent in 1993. In contrast, French household consumption of frozen breaded fish decreased by seven percent from 1993 to 1994, despite decreased retail prices, due to the fact that the product's image is often that of a lower-quality food item.

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Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, TOTAL EDIBLE

Utilization Patterns

In general, typical French consumers of fresh finfish and fresh shellfish are upper middle class or upper class, couples over 50 years old with no children, who live in large cities or the Paris area. The
primary consumers of whole fish and fish steaks tend to fall into the same category. However, most consumers of sea finfish fillets are younger couples (35 to 50 years old), with children, who live in
average to large-size towns.

The majority of French household consumption of fresh sea finfish takes place along France's coasts, or in Paris and its environs. Consumption of fresh sea finfish is increasing throughout France, however, thanks to local hyper- and supermarkets' increasing share of the French distribution of fresh finfish. Hyper- and supermarket chains tend to sell products at lower prices than the smaller, private fish retailers, and have consequently seen their market share of the French distribution of fresh finfish increase from 41 percent in 1990 to 53 percent in 1994.

Whole Sea Finfish

In French hyper- and supermarkets, the leading finfish specie sold whole is salmon. In 1994, however, whole salmon sales accounted for 35.8 percent of total hyper- and supermarkets sales, down from 42.6 percent in 1993.

Sea Finfish Steaks

Hyper- and supermarket sales accounted for 53.9 percent of total sales of sea finfish steaks in 1994, up from 49.2 percent in 1993. The leading finfish specie sold in steaks in hyper- and supermarkets is
cod. In 1994, it accounted for 39.1 percent of the sea finfish steak sales in these stores, up from 37.9 percent in 1993.

Sea Finfish Fillets

Hyper- and supermarket sales accounted for 65.8 percent of total sales of sea finfish fillets in 1994, up from 60.7 percent in 1993. The leading specie sold in fillets in hyper- and supermarkets is
pollock/coalfish, accounting for 45.7 percent in 1994, down from 49.9 percent in 1993.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, TRADE, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

PRODUCTS

Trade Trends

France is a net importer of seafood products, with imports valued at about three times the value of exports. According to the French Center for French Trade (CFCE), total French imports of seafood
products in 1994 were valued at FF 15 billion, while exports were valued at FF 4.9 billion. (NOTE: The latest available data from CFCE for French seafood exports and imports is from April 1995). During the first four months of 1995, French imports of seafood increased by 10 and 14 percent in volume and value, respectively, while exports grew 12 percent in volume and value, compared to the same period in 1994. French imports and exports of total seafood were broken down as follows:

French imports of total seafood:

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Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, TRADE, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

French exports of total seafood:

Trade Matrix, Total Seafood
CY 1994
Units : FF million

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, TRADE, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

Factors Affecting U.S. Trade

The United States was the sixth supplier of seafood products to France in 1994, accounting for approximately four percent of total French seafood imports, in terms of value. French imports from the U.S. mainly consisted of frozen finfish species such as monkfish, dogfish, skate, and salmon.

During the first four months of 1995, French imports of seafood from the U.S. accounted for 3.6 percent in volume and 3.5 in value, of the total French imports of seafood, and comprised the following products:

  Note: There was no similar aggregate available from CFCE for January-April 1994.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, STOCKS, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

PRODUCTS

General

French seafood stocks include frozen, canned, and cured fish products. Data on the quantities of stocks are not made available to the public, so figures in the "stocks" line item of the PS&D are residuals.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, POLICY, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY PRODUCTS

During the past three years, the French seafood sector has faced a wide range of problems, ranging from increasing competition in international fishing waters from third countries and the corresponding decrease in natural stock levels, to changes in the distribution network from small fish markets to major hyper-and supermarket chains. Since 1993, the GOF took a series of measures to adapt to these new market conditions. In 1994, social measures were taken for French fishermen, such as 50 percent exemption of social taxes. In February 1995, a new support program was launched by the
French Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food valued at FF 330 million, of which FF 180 million will be provided by the GOF. The objectives of this program are the following: (1) Improving the social situation of the French fishermen; (2) Supporting the fishing boats that have financial problems (about FF one million is expected to be distributed among 170 boats); (3) Stabilizing the financial situation of the small fishing boats (12 meters long), which account for 75 percent of the French fishing fleet; (4) Decreasing port taxes, which includes a decrease in landing taxes as well as first sale taxes; (5) Setting the budget for 1995 law loan rates at FF 340 million, in addition to the global FF 330 million.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, PRICES, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

PRODUCTS

Price Trends

In 1993 and 1994, average retail prices for fresh finfish were as follows (in FF/Kg):

In 1993 and 1994, average retail prices for frozen seafood were as follows (in FF/Kg):

The average retail price for crustaceans in 1994 increased by six percent, to FF 66.74/Kg, from 1993. Average retail prices for large crustaceans (all crustaceans except shrimp) rose by one percent, to FF 49.15/Kg, while average retail prices for all shrimp species, combined, rose by eight percent, to FF 89.44/Kg.

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Seafood
Total Edible Fishery Prods.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, MARKETING, TOTAL EDIBLE FISHERY

PRODUCTS

Market Development Opportunities

The market development opportunities for U.S. suppliers of live sea and fresh water fish and seafood products are still limited in France because of the cost of transporting the products from the United
States. Fresh U.S. lobsters, however, are a definite exception as they are often less expensive in the French market than locally sourced products.

Marketing Channels

See annual report FR4073 (September 15, 1994).

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Seafood
Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd

Global Economic Data Exchange System

Commodity: Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd (0340100) (METRIC TONS)
Beg. Month/Year of Marketing Year: 01 / 94 01 / 95 01 / 96

Note: Post has opted to include fresh and frozen fillet data as part of total trade in the above PS&D because, on average, they account for 7 percent of the total.

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Seafood
Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd

+COMMODITY OUTLOOK, PRODUCTION, SALMON

General

French production of salmon is limited to small-scale aquaculture. For general background information on Salmor, the leading French company farming salmon, please see report semi-annual report FR9554B. Since this last report, there has been no change in the French production estimates of 450 MT and 550 MT for 1994 and 1995, respectively. The forecast for 1996 is for a stable production, at 550 MT.

Production Quality

France has a highly developed industry for processing salmon, reflecting French consumer preferences for smoked salmon. There are seven leading smokers in France: Labeyrie, Narvik, Chevance, Jean-Baptiste Delpierre, Scab, York, and Armoric. Currently, the French industry is fine-tuning its processing techniques in an effort to introduce quality controls.

A new French quality label for smoked salmon was set by the French Standards Organization (AFNOR). This quality label is listed under the call number "NF V 45-065 (NF stands for Norme Francaise, i.e. French standards)," and is specifically for processed fish/smoked salmon. The quality label includes the following information:
1) Salmon species: Salmon species which can be marketed under the name "smoked salmon" (Atlantic salmon, Silver and Royal Pacific salmon species);
2) Smoking quality: The salmon cannot be smoked with coniferous wood, nor can it be injected with smoke flavorings;
3) Contents: the moisture and fat content must not exceed 78 and 18 percent, respectively.
4) Method of presentation: whole fish or cuts (without skins and with a minimum weight of 10 grams).

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Seafood
Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd
The labeling on the package must also include the following general information:

- A date limit for consumption (21 days following the manufacturing process);
- Number of slices in the package;
- The warning "do not refreeze" if the product has already been frozen;
- Product statements such as "a l'ancienne" ("traditional"), or "fume au bois de hetre" ("smoked with beech wood") are only authorized on the packaging under certain conditions.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, SALMON

Utilization Patterns

1. Fresh salmon

According to SECODIP, total household consumption of fresh salmon increased by six percent in volume from 1993 to 1994, to 13,520 MT, while retail prices rose by two percent, to FF 53.8/Kg. Fresh salmon consumption in France in 1994 was broken down as follows:

Note: The above tonnage is in product weight basis, and not in whole fish weight basis.

SECODIP estimated that in 1994, 96 percent of fresh whole salmon, and 73 percent of salmon steaks, were sold in hyper- and supermarkets. Large-scale distributors have had a major impact on retail prices, which through economies of scale have been reduced significantly in comparison to the prices in small fish shops. In 1994, the average retail prices for fresh whole salmon in hyper- and supermarkets amounted to FF 43.4/Kg (FF 2.9/Kg below the total average price in the above table), while retail prices for fresh salmon steaks amounted to FF 70.4/Kg in hyper- and supermarkets (FF 1.9/Kg below the total average price in the above table).

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Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, CONSUMPTION, SALMON

2. Smoked salmon

In 1994, French household consumption of smoked salmon increased slightly, to 10,535 MT, from 10,496 MT in 1993, whole fish weight equivalent. Smoked salmon accounted for 59.5 percent of the total cured (i.e., smoked, dried, and salted) fish market in 1994, up from 58.8 percent in 1993.

Smoked salmon is consumed throughout France. The Parisian Basin, however, accounts for almost a third of total French consumption, with 29 percent in 1994, compared to 18 percent in 1993.

As it is the case for fresh salmon, the bulk of smoked salmon is sold in hyper- and super markets. In 1994, hyper- and supermarkets accounted for 47 and 42 percent of the sales of smoked salmon in
France, up from 46 and 41 percent in 1993, respectively.

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, TRADE, SALMON

Trade Trends

France is the EU's largest market for salmon. With extremely low domestic production and high consumer demand, France is traditionally a net importer of salmon, and imports have been increasing in the last few years.

For detailed comments on the 1994 trade data, please see report FR9554B, dated March 28, 1995.

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Seafood
Salmon, Whl/Evisceratd

COMMODITY OUTLOOK, TRADE, SALMON

Trade Matrix