REVIEW – GLOBAL ADVANCES IN TILAPIA PRODUCTION AND
MARKETING – 2008
Kevin Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.Sec. Tres. American Tilapia Association
Past President – World Aquaculture Society
Professor, University of Arizona
Busan, Korea
World Aquaculture MeetingsMay 23, 2008
OverviewGlobal perspectiveUS and EU markets for tilapia productsProcessing and packaging changesNew productsDemands on farmersFuture trends
China
EgyptPhilippines
Mexico
Thailand
Taiwan
Brasil
Indonesia
Colombia
Cuba
Ecuador
Vietnam
Costa Rica HondurasMalaysia
United StatesOthersWorld Tilapia Production of 2,600,908 mt in 2007
Asia
Africa
Americas
Others
World Tilapia Production of 2,600,908 mt in 2007
Global production of tilapia
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Met
ric
ton
s
Year
Aquaculture Fishery
Top Ten Seafoods (U.S.)per capita (lbs)
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 (est.)Tuna 3.5 Shrimp 3.4 Shrimp 3.7 Shrimp 4.0 Shrimp 4.2 Shrimp 4.1 Shrimp 4.4 Shrimp 4.4Shrimp 3.2 Tuna 2.9 Tuna 3.1 Tuna 3.4 Tuna 3.4 Tuna 3.1 Tuna 2.9 Tuna 2.9Pollock 1.6 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.2 Salmon 2.2 Salmon 2.4 Salmon 2.0 Salmon 2.0Salmon 1.5 Pollock 1.2 Pollock 1.1 Pollock 1.7 Pollock 1.7 Pollock 1.5 Pollock 1.6 Pollock 1.6Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.1 Catfish 1.0 Tilapia 1.0 Tilapia 1.2Cod 0.8 Cod 0.6 Cod 0.7 Cod 0.6 Tilapia 0.7 Tilapia 0.8 Catfish 0.97 Catfish 0.97Clams 0.5 Clams 0.5 Crabs 0.6 Crabs 0.6 Cod 0.6 Crabs 0.6 Crabs 0.7 Crabs 0.66Crabs 0.4 Crabs 0.4 Clams 0.5 Tilapia 0.5 Crabs 0.6 Cod 0.6 Cod 0.5 Cod 0.51Flatf ish 0.4 Flatf ish 0.4 Tilapia 0.4 Clams 0.5 Clams 0.5 Clams 0.4 Clams 0.4 Clams 0.44Scallops 0.3 Tilapia 0.4 Flatfish 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.3 Scallops 0.31
Tilapia 0.3
Percentage of US finfish sales
US Tilapia consumption (imports and domestic)229,000 mt of live weight (equivalent) - 2004
306,410 mt of live weight (equivalent) – 2005368,295 mt of live weight (equivalent) – 2006
437,000 mt of live weight (equivalent) - 2007
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
Met
ric
tons
1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
US Consumption of tilapia from domestic and imported sources
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,0001
99
0
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
Til
apia
(000
's o
f kg
of
live
wei
gh
t)
Domestic Imports
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,0001
99
2
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
Me
tric
ton
s
Tilapia product forms imported to the U.S.
Whole Frozen
Fillet Frozen
Fillet Fresh
26,176 mt fresh fillets, 100,636 mt frozen fillets, 46,943 mt whole frozen (2007)
Fillet Fresh
Fillet Frozen
Whole Frozen
$0
$20,000,000
$40,000,000
$60,000,000
$80,000,000
$100,000,000
$120,000,000
$140,000,000
$160,000,000
$180,000,000
$200,000,000
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
$ U
S
Value of Tilapia product forms imported to the U.S.2002
Whole Frozen
Fillet Frozen
Fillet Fresh
$0
$100,000,000
$200,000,000
$300,000,000
$400,000,000
$500,000,000
$600,000,000
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
$ U
S
Value of Tilapia product forms imported to the U.S.
Whole Frozen
Fillet Frozen
Fillet Fresh
$297,413,000 (2004) $392,978,298 (2005) $482,742,515 (2006), $559,788,809 (2007)
Tilapia (June 2007, Tesco, UK)
$18 US per kg whole fish!!!!
Begin quality control on the farm
Reduce or eliminate use of drugs and chemicals Consider alternatives to methyltestosterone Use high quality feeds, proper ratio of protein,
carbohydrates and fat (minimize fatty deposits) No contaminates in feed Maintain water quality, avoid polluted water Control algae blooms and off-flavor
Depuration stage
Check fish for off-flavor at the farm Move to depuration system, good quality
water, no feed, clear fish of off-flavor Depuration system can be on-farm or at
processing plant Check for off-flavor at processing plant Check for off-flavor at end of processing
Transport to processing plantBest to transport
live
May want to add salt to reduce stress and maintain quality
High quality fresh and frozen fillets
Hand trimming of fillets
Buyers are requesting better trim of margins of fillets for more consistent appearance
Many fillets are treated with carbon monoxide(CO, also called liquid smoke)
CO infuses into fillet and reacts with myoglobin
Fillet maintains fresh appearance for longer period
Carbon monoxide - CO Especially common at
Chinese processors Initially CO infusion in
bags, then moved to cabinets, now retort vessels
Carbon monoxide - CO Rapidly improving the
technique, and providing safety to workers
Must be labeled as an additive in US and EU
Carbon monoxide
Latest variations are to introduce CO during transport to the processing plant and putting whole fish into CO pressure vessel on receiving dock
Demands on farmers and processors
Demand for even more food safety, high quality, “organic” or “green” tilapia products.
- Reduce or eliminate use of methyl-testosterone hormone.
- No anti-biotics or other chemicals
- Reduce environmental impacts
- More integrated, re-use water for farming crops
- Re-use processing waste products
More value-added tilapia products More demand for all forms, especially frozen meals Rapidly increasing demand from Europe
Improved quality control:Required for US, EU, and Japan markets
Samples checked for bacterial and chemical contamination
Follow HACCP procedures, ISO, and EU guidelines
Many plants are using ozone dips to reduce surface bacteria
Gaining NGO certifications
NaturLandWorld Wildlife FundAquaculture Certification Council
Each reviewing sustainability of aquaculture practices and providing a certification and marketing logo
Improvements in packaging
IQF Fillets in re-sealable
packages
Tilapia Orange Juice
Global Tilapia Market TrendsPrices have been constant, only fresh fillets have increased
significantly, will not see increases with inflation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008 (est)
Fresh filletFrozen filletWholeLive
$/kg
Upcoming supply shortage for frozen fillets???
Notes from China (CAPPMA) 100,000 metric tons of tilapia lost in first week of
February 2008 due to the severe winter storms hitting Guangxi and Fujian provinces
Other industry reports put figure at 300,000 to 500,000 mt lost.
Guangdong and Hainan provinces were not hit very badly, so some reports may be exaggerated.
Global Aquaculture Tilapia Sales
For year 2000 =US $ 1,744,045000 (FAO FishStat 2007)
2005 sales = $ 2,457,312,000(FAO FishStat 2007)
2010 sales >$ 5,000,000,000
Future global tilapia aquaculture
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
Met
ric
tons
(000
)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
(est
)
2009
(est
)
2010
(est
)
Conclusions Need to meet stricter food safety, quality,
and environmental criteria More demands for food safety, quality
assurance, improved packaging, and environmental safeguards (with little if any increase in price)
ISO, HACCP and NGO certifications
Eighth International Symposium on Tilapia in Aquaculture
12-14 October, 2008Cairo International Conference Center