Fish and other seafood products are an up-and-coming food all over the world. And, in many regions of the planet, they have always been the main source of protein. Suffice it to say that, according to Export Planning, fish trade globally exceeded the value of 100 billion euros in 2021. Value that more than one-third (35.4%) is represented by fresh or chilled fish, followed by frozen fish fillets (14.8%) and  frozen shellfish (14.6%).

In terms of major markets, with a 15.8% share of world demand in 2021, the United States was found to be the largest importer of seafood products, ahead of China, Japan, France, Spain, Sweden and Italy in order.

However, to the success among consumers especially younger consumers for its healthy characteristics, fish consumption also accompanies concerns about the environmental impact of intensive fishing. Here, then, international companies are valuing innovation to combine these two market trends.

"Fish proteins are perceived as very healthy by the consumer,"explains Rodrigo Rodríguez, Retail & Foodservice EU Markets of WOFCO - Five Oceans Seafood. "In addition, we fish responsibly and sustainably, and this makes our products more attractive to more conscious consumers. Despite the international situation, the summer is looking very promising. We are seeing great interest especially in shrimp and squid, octopus and tuna fillets."

Multi-national value chains

Many Italian companies, such as Starlaks, a salmon specialist, are also integrated into the international value chain. As CEO Davide Brebbia explains, "Seafood is considered an excellent alternative to meat, and among the most popular products remains salmon, which, despite significant increases in the cost of raw material, continues to grow in both fresh and smoked presentations. For summer, we particularly focus on natural salmon, which is particularly suitable for carpaccio and cold dishes."

The sector will be the protagonist at TUTTOFOOD2023, at fieramilano from May 8 to 11, thanks to TUTTOSEAFOOD: the dedicated sector that has consolidated edition after edition becoming an international benchmark, thanks in part to the unique feature of combining vertical lunges into the sector with inclusion in an event that presents a global overview of the entire agribusiness sector.