The situation with the US imports and exports of lobsters
Import of lobsters in the US is still superior to their export from the country both in volume and in value. Last year, the United States exported 55,553 tons worth $749.8 million, increasing sales by less than 1% in volume and 4% in value terms. In turn, in the US import of lobsters with a decrease of 7% and 5% in volume and cost, respectively, it was 61,367 tons in 2016, at the amount of $1.35 billion. 90% of the total amount of the US exports accounted for live lobsters. 50,195 tons worth $640.3 million of which were sold abroad, which is higher by 8% in volume and 12% in value than in 2015. Exports of these products in China and South Korea have increased, while deliveries in Italy, Spain, and Vietnam dropped.
US exports of live lobsters to Canada 31,229 tons worth $327.8 million last year reached, an increase in the annual rate of 4% in volume and value. Shipments to China increased by 100% in volume and 122% in value to 4,948 tons worth $84.3 million. Exports of lobsters from the US to Italy amounted to 3,280 tons in the amount of $52.6 million, a decrease of less than 1% in volume and showing a 2% decline in value.
Spain has also reduced the import of live lobsters from the United States by 4% in volume to 2,360 tons with a decrease in the value by 1% to $40.3 million. Deliveries of these products from the US to Vietnam amounted to 1,213 tons worth $19.5 million, down 31 and 32% by volume and cost, respectively. At the same time, South Korea has increased the import from the United States by 41% in volume of up to 1,043 tons, and the value increased by 52% and amounted to $16.4 million.
Most of the American lobster imports totaled live ones from Canada, whose deliveries were down 13% year on year in 2016 in volume and 12% in value to 27,507 tons worth $376.9 million. The second largest category was Canadian frozen whole lobsters, which were imported 14,668 tons worth $433.6 million, which is lower by 3 and 8% in volume and value, respectively than in 2015.
US imports of salmon
Last year, US imports of Atlantic salmon were only 1% more than in 2015, but its value at the same time increased by 23%. In 2016 the United States delivered 283,764 tons of products worth $2.7 billion.
Most of the transportations were fresh fillets, purchases of which have increased by 3% in volume and 28% in value to 133,174 tons worth $1.4 billion. From Chile had been imported 94,780 tons of this product worth $970.9 million, up 3% lower than in 2015, the volume, but 22% higher in value terms. Imports of fresh salmon fillets from Norway to the United States was 20,225 tons in the amount of $211.6 million, exceeding the previous year by 22 and 46% of volume and value, respectively.
US imports of whole fresh Atlantic salmon in 2016 increased in the amount of 1% to 108,425 tons, while its value increased by 28% and amounted to $842 million. Most of the supplies come from Canada, while their volume grew at an annual rate by 4% to 77,877 tons, while the value increased by 28% to $577.4 million.
Imports of frozen fillets of Atlantic salmon in the United States last year amounted to 35,019 tons worth $406.9 million, a decrease by 9 and 2% in volume and value respectively compared to 2015. The main supplier of these products to the US market has become Chile. It delivered 25,206 tons worth $272.3 million, which is lower than the previous year by 8% in volume and 2% in value. American imports of frozen fillets of Atlantic fish from Norway in the last year, in turn, decreased by 11% in volume and 2% in the value of up to 7,683 tons worth $107.8 million.
