Sector Trend Analysis – Crustacean products in France

Trade overview

France is a significant importer of crustacean products, as its domestic production is considerably lower than its total demand. While overall consumption is flat, seafood imports keep increasing fast.

In 2017 France was the fifth-largest importer of crustaceans in the world. It imported crustacean products from the world worth US$1.4 billion, and from Canada, US$37.2 million (based on France's imports data).

France imported crustaceans from ninety-five countries in 2017. The country's top suppliers in 2017 were Ecuador (with 17.3% market share), the United Kingdom (8.2%), India (7.9%), Madagascar (7.4%), and Vietnam (7.2%). Canada had a 2.7% share and was the tenth-largest supplier in 2017.

France's top imported crustacean products from the world were frozen shrimp and prawns with 59.5% share, followed by frozen rock lobster and other sea crawfish (5.0%) and prepared shrimp and prawns in airtight container (4.6%). The biggest growth was frozen lobsters with a compound annual growth rate of 12.2% from 2013 to 2017. France's total imports of crustaceans had a 0.5% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017.

From 2013 to 2017, France's top three imports of crustacean products from Canada were all lobsters:

1. frozen lobster (US$20.9 million)
2. live, fresh or chilled lobster (US$13.9 million)
3. prepared or preserved lobster (US$1.2 million)

Consumer trends and domestic sales

The total volume sales of crustaceans in France remained steady (between 17,100 tonnes and 18,000 tonnes) from 2013 to 2017. Its market share was 5.7% in the total volume sales of fish and seafood in 2017. The compound annual growth rate of the total volume sales of crustaceans was 0.9% from 2013 to 2017.

It is forecast that the total volume sales of crustaceans will decline from 2018 to 2022 with a negative compound annual growth rate of −0.6%. The market share is forecast to be 5.5% by 2022.

Total volume of crustacean consumption per capita remained the same at 0.3 kilogram from 2013 to 2017. Total volume of crustacean consumption per household remained the same at 0.6 kilogram from 2013 to 2017.

Retail environment

French retail demand for crustaceans remains relatively high among European countries. However, at the retail level, Euromonitor International notes that price remained the primary factor for French customers in making purchasing decisions as crustaceans was viewed as high value price products and difficult to prepare and cook. The retail volume of crustaceans sold decreased to 13,100 tonnes in 2017, but the retail value increased to US$205.8 million in 2017. Euromonitor International notes that sales of crustaceans at the foodservice level are also declining, citing the price as a factor.

It is forecast that retail sales will continue to decrease to 12,300 tonnes in 2022, but the retail sales value will increase to US$209.6 million in 2022.

Trade analysis by category

France's imports of shrimps and prawns had a 72.4% of market share, worth US$992.1 million in 2017 among all crustaceans imported from the world. Imports of lobsters accounted for 18.0% market share, worth US$247 million, while imports of crabs accounted for 7.3%, worth US$100.6 million. Shrimp and prawn had a 1.5% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017. Lobster, crab and other crustaceans all had negative compound annual growth rates from 2013 to 2017.

Among all of France's imports of crustacean products from Canada in 2017, lobster accounted for 97.0% followed by crabs: 1.7%, shrimps and prawns: 0.7% and other crustaceans: 0.6%. France's imports of lobster saw 12.7% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017.

Shrimp and prawn

Shrimp is the number one shellfish consumed in France. Frozen shrimp is imported raw in France and cooked locally; the cooked unshelled shrimp is then sold as "fresh products" on seafood counters throughout the country.

Ecuador has been the largest supplier of shrimps and prawns to France since 2013, reaching US$235.8 million in 2017, followed by India at US$107.7 million. Canada was ranked the forty-seventh supplier of shrimps and prawns to France worth US$0.3 million and had a negative compound annual growth rate of −24.2% from 2013 to 2017.

Among France's imports of shrimps and prawns from the world, frozen shrimps and prawns accounted for 82.2% market share, worth US$815.5 million in 2017, followed by prepared or preserved shrimps and prawns in airtight container (6.3%), worth US$62.8 million.

France's total imports of shrimps and prawns from Canada in 2017 reached US$251,253, among which prepared or preserved shrimps and prawns accounted for 88.4% market share, worth US$222,008. However, both the total imports of shrimps and prawns and the imports of prepared or preserved shrimps and pawns had negative compound annual growth rates of −24.2% and −5.4% respectively.

Lobster

Canada competes with the US for live lobster, while there is no competition from the US for frozen lobster. Under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canadian lobster (live) can now enter the European Union (EU) with zero duties while the US still has 8% duties; this means that Canada could potentially take some of the American market share.

Canada was the second-biggest supplier of lobster to France at a value of US$36.1 million, representing 14.6% of the market share in 2017. The United Kingdom was the biggest supplier to France at a value of US$76.3 million, representing 30.9% market share.

France's top imports of lobster products from the world were frozen rock lobster and other sea crawfish with a market share of 27.9%, worth US$68.9 million in 2017, followed by live, fresh, chilled, dried, salted lobsters with a market share of 25.2%, worth US$62.3 million. Frozen lobster (import value US$31.9) had the highest compound annual growth rate of 12.2% from 2013 to 2017. Lobster sold at the retail level is very seasonal (Christmas and Easter).

Lobster was France's biggest crustacean import from Canada in 2017 at a value of US$36.1 million, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.7% from 2013 to 2017. Imports of frozen lobster accounted for 57.9% of the total imports and had a compound annual growth rate of 14.9% from 2013 to 2017.

Crab

The United Kingdom was the biggest supplier of crab to France, accounting for 29.3% of the market share in 2017. Canada was the sixteenth biggest supplier of crabs to France, accounting for 0.6% of the market share in 2017. Canada had a −26% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017.

France's imports of frozen crabs in shell or not accounted for 38.7% (worth US$38.9 million) of the total imports of crabs in 2017, followed by live, fresh, chilled, dried, salted crabs, which accounted for 30.2% of market share (US$30.4 million).

France's imports of crab products from Canada were prepared or preserved crab, and frozen crabs. Both had negative compound annual growth rates of −28.7% and −11.5% respectively from 2013 to 2017.

Other crustaceans

The Netherlands was the biggest supplier of other crustaceans to France, reaching US$14.6 million in 2017. Canada was the fourteenth biggest supplier of other crustaceans to France, reaching US$224,114 in 2017 and with a 1.7% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017.

Total imports of other crustaceans witnessed a −2.6% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017. However, prepared or preserved crustaceans saw a 1.8% compound annual growth rate over the same period of time, with a market share of 53.6%, worth US$14.6 million.

Distribution format

Retail accounted for over 81% of fresh fish and seafood sales in France, followed by foodservice with 15.8% in 2017. The share of the three formats remained steady from 2013 to 2017.

Conclusion

France's total imports of crustaceans from the world had a 0.5% compound annual growth rate and its domestic total volume sales of crustaceans had a 0.9% compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2017. The retail value of crustaceans increased to US$205.8 million in 2017, despite the decline in retail volume sales in that year due to the high price.

Canada was the tenth-largest supplier of crustaceans to France, worth US$37.2 million in 2017, and was the second-biggest supplier of lobster to France, worth US$36.1 million, representing 14.6% of the global share in 2017. It is expected that the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will greatly improve Canada's potential to be competitive in this sector.

For more information

International Trade Commissioners can provide Canadian industry with on-the-ground expertise regarding market potential, current conditions and local business contacts, and are an excellent point of contact for export advice.

• Overview of Trade Commissioner Services in France
• Find a Trade Commissioner

For additional intelligence on this and other markets, the complete library of Global Analysis reports can be found on the International agri-food market intelligence page, arranged by region.

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Resources

• Euromonitor International, 2018
• Global Trade Tracker, 2018

Sector Trend Analysis: Crustacean Products in France
Global Analysis Report

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