Overview of the fish market of Ukraine for 2022 and 2023
Thursday, 04 January 2024, 22:50
7653
2022 year
General situation and imports.
General situation and imports.
The start of a full-scale war on February 24, 2022 at 4 a.m. turned out to be a real shock for Ukraine. The vast majority of civilians were confused and had to evacuate to safer places, cities, regions, including abroad. Undoubtedly, all this significantly affected the economic and business activities of companies and enterprises in the first weeks of the war.
Due to objective circumstances, even in peacetime, Ukraine is unable to catch or grow many types of fish and seafood, so more than 85% of all fish products consumed by Ukrainians are imported.
That is why, to a large extent, importing companies are entrusted with a socially responsible function in providing the population with fish and seafood. It is worth noting that among all food products imported into Ukraine, it is "fish and seafood" that takes the first place in terms of import volume.
In connection with the beginning of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, the import of fish products was practically stopped. To the problems with logistics, the lack of transport and drivers, as well as to the problem of blocked ports in the South of Ukraine, which before the war accounted for up to 40% of the total volume of imports, was added a restriction on the purchase of currency for the purchase of fish products.
For some time, fish and seafood were absent from the List of Critically Imported Goods defined by CMU Resolution No. 153 of 02/24/2022 "On Certain Issues Regarding Ensuring Imports".
In March and April 2022, the Association of "Ukrainian Importers of Fish and Seafood" repeatedly (four times) addressed letters and arguments to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine with the aim of including this group of goods in the List of Critically Imported Goods.
Gradually, the Association's arguments were heard and fish products were added to the List of Critically Imported Goods, which made it possible to launch the fish industry, start supplying fish products to numerous processing enterprises, trade networks and to the defenders of Ukraine.
In July 2022, import restrictions were actually lifted and most importers had the opportunity to conduct their activities more predictably.
However, the next challenge at the end of August and the beginning of September 2022 was numerous queues at the border due to the large number of exports of agricultural products, in particular, grain.
At the end of November 2022, the troops of the Russian Federation began systematic shelling of the infrastructure and energy networks of Ukraine, which became another challenge for all Ukrainians, including companies and enterprises that work with frozen products that require a constant sub-zero temperature regime.
All of the above circumstances led to a 30% drop in import and consumption volumes in 2022.
The import of fish products in 2022 amounted to 300,000 tons with a total value of 700 million dollars USA.
Traditionally, the largest volumes were imported from Norway, Iceland, the USA, Canada, Estonia and other countries (more detailed information is available to members of the Association)
Export 2022.
Despite the difficult situation, the export of fish products from Ukraine, both processed from imported raw materials and from local fish, continued to be carried out.
According to customs authorities, during 2022, Ukraine exported 8,400 tons of fish, fish products and other aquatic biological resources for a total amount of 48 million dollars USA. Ukraine exported the largest volumes of fish products to Moldova, Germany, the USA, Denmark and Lithuania.
According to customs authorities, during 2022, Ukraine exported 8,400 tons of fish, fish products and other aquatic biological resources for a total amount of 48 million dollars USA. Ukraine exported the largest volumes of fish products to Moldova, Germany, the USA, Denmark and Lithuania.
Own catch 2022.
As a result of the military invasion of the Russian Federation, the total catch of aquatic biological resources suffered a significant negative impact and decreased by almost 40 thousand tons. A total of 33,800 tons of aquatic biological resources were extracted in 2022, which is 46% in accordance with the indicator of 2021.
A partial or complete prohibition of navigation on large fishing water bodies of Ukraine was a significant shaping factor of industrial fishing last year. At the same time, fishing in the Azov and Black seas was effectively blocked, with the exception of certain areas within the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.
As a result, only 10.1 thousand tons of aquatic bioresources were harvested by industrial fishermen in fisheries water bodies and on the continental shelf of Ukraine in 2022, which is 67% less compared to 2021:
- in internal reservoirs – 9.95 thousand tons, or almost 44% less compared to last year;
- in the Black Sea – 0.076 thousand tons (-99.1%);
- in the Sea of Azov - 0.024 thousand tons (-99.5%).
At the same time, fishing outside the jurisdiction of Ukraine in the area of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was prematurely stopped due to the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, which complicated the process of replacing the crew of the vessel that caught Antarctic krill.
Therefore, the total volume of extracted water bioresources by vessels under the state flag outside the jurisdiction of Ukraine amounted to 9,659 tons, which is 58.3% less than in 2021.
2023 year
Aggression did not undermine our belief in the chosen path - to live a free life!
We strengthened our positions, developed, improved, and will continue to do so even more stubbornly and tenaciously.
Our defenders make incredible efforts in the defense of our country, while we actively work to support and develop our country.
We strengthened our positions, developed, improved, and will continue to do so even more stubbornly and tenaciously.
Our defenders make incredible efforts in the defense of our country, while we actively work to support and develop our country.
The problems that haunted the fishing industry in 2022 continued in 2023. Complex logistics, staffing problems, queues at the borders, blocking checkpoints at the western borders significantly complicated the work of companies.
At the same time, it should be noted that the constant communication of the Association of "Ukrainian Importers of Fish and Seafood" with the leadership of the State Customs Service, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the State Production and Consumer Service and other bodies contributed to the maximum during import-export activities.
Many importing companies in April 2023, actually for the first time in 4 years (covid 2020, 2021 and war 2022, 2023), attended the largest fish exhibition in the world, Seafood Expo Global, which recently moved to Barcelona, Spain.
The international exhibition Seafood Expo Global is the largest fish exhibition in the world, which combines two areas: Seafood Expo Global (representing the consumer market segment of fresh fish, seafood, canned and frozen fish) and Seafood Processing Global (equipment, technology and services of fish and seafood processing for professionals). The exhibition is attended by almost 30,000 fishery industry specialists from 150 countries of the world. Every year, more than 1,600 companies from 80 countries are represented at the exhibition. Key countries are represented by national stands (USA, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Chile, China and others, more than 60 national stands in total).
Participation in such an industry exhibition provides an opportunity to find customers, enter new sales markets, strengthen existing relationships with partners and open new opportunities for the fishing industry of Ukraine.
Ukrainian fish companies, including members of our Association, also took part in this exhibition, since it is impossible to satisfy the demand of the Ukrainian population for fish products without imports, which is about 85%.
It is extremely important to maintain relations with our foreign partners, find new counterparties, open new sales markets and promote Ukrainian companies, their products, and talk about the prospects for further cooperation with Ukraine in general.
According to the agreement of the General Director of the Association, Dmytro Zagumenny, with the international organization EUROFISH, in 2023, Eurofish Magazine published several publications about Ukrainian fishing companies, members of the Association.
Import 2023
According to the results of 2023, the import and consumption of fish and seafood in Ukraine amounted to 330,000 tons with a total value of 932 million dollars USA.
In total, importing companies paid about 7 billion hryvnias of taxes to the budget of Ukraine for the import of fish and seafood in 2023.
In total, importing companies paid about 7 billion hryvnias of taxes to the budget of Ukraine for the import of fish and seafood in 2023.
Comparative table of imports for 2013-2023.
Export 2023
Export of fish products from Ukraine amounted to 6,500 tons with a total value of 31.2 million dollars USA.
Behind these numbers is the hard work of Ukrainian companies, which, despite all the obstacles, continue to work, export and find new sales markets for their products.
Behind these numbers is the hard work of Ukrainian companies, which, despite all the obstacles, continue to work, export and find new sales markets for their products.
Own catch 2023
Regarding the domestic industry, it should be noted that the year 2023 was marked by a novelty in the industrial fishing of aquatic biological resources of Ukraine, in particular, the holding of auctions for such fishing in the state electronic trading system "PROZORRO.PRODAZHI".
The auctions opened up the opportunity to involve new participants in the fishing business, ensured equal conditions of economic competition and minimized corruption risks in the distribution of aquatic biological resources among users. The reform of the fishing industry continues.
Information on the amount of aquatic bioresources caught in Ukraine will be available later. However, it is unlikely that the numbers will differ significantly from 2022.
The auctions opened up the opportunity to involve new participants in the fishing business, ensured equal conditions of economic competition and minimized corruption risks in the distribution of aquatic biological resources among users. The reform of the fishing industry continues.
Information on the amount of aquatic bioresources caught in Ukraine will be available later. However, it is unlikely that the numbers will differ significantly from 2022.
Fish in the world
Currently, the world is producing record high volumes of fishery and aquaculture products. In the future, the contribution of the sector to the provision of food and nutrition will grow.
In 2020 (FAO report for 2022), the sector produced a record volume of products - 214 million tons (in value terms - about 424 billion US dollars). The volume of aquatic animals harvested in 2020 exceeded the average figure for the 1990s by more than 60 percent, significantly ahead of the growth of the world population, which is primarily due to an increase in the volume of production of aquaculture products.
In 2020 (FAO report for 2022), the sector produced a record volume of products - 214 million tons (in value terms - about 424 billion US dollars). The volume of aquatic animals harvested in 2020 exceeded the average figure for the 1990s by more than 60 percent, significantly ahead of the growth of the world population, which is primarily due to an increase in the volume of production of aquaculture products.
In general, the average consumption in the world has increased to 22 kg per person per year.
According to forecasts, the production of aquatic animals will grow by another 14 percent by 2030.
The patterns of use and processing of fishery and aquaculture products have significantly changed in recent decades. In the 1960s, 67 percent of global production was used for direct human consumption, and in 2020 - 89 percent (157 million tons) excluding algae. The rest of the production (more than 20 million tons) was directed to non-food purposes: almost all of this volume was used for the production of fish meal and fish oil; and the rest of the products were decorative fish and aquatic animals used as bait, in pharmaceuticals, as feed for pets, raw materials for direct feeding of cultivated fish, farm animals and fur animals.
According to the European Commission, the average consumption of fish in the EU has increased to 24.4 kg.
Average fish consumption in Ukraine in 2022-2023 is approximately 13 kg per person per year.
So, Ukraine has room to grow, which we will do in 2024, including after our victory and EU membership.
