In the first quarter of 2016, purchases of mussels in the 10 largest buying countries slightly increased (+2 500 tonnes) compared with the same period in 2015.
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For the world's largest importers, France and Italy, imports grew by 5 percent and 4 percent respectively, according to FAO Globefish.
In terms of exports, the leading traders declined notably: the Netherlands by 24 percent, Chile by 12 percent, and Spain by 1 percent.
Interestingly, by contrast, modest producers reported growing exports on the international market, including Denmark (+54 percent or +1 900 tonnes), New Zealand (+21 percent or +1 500 tonnes), and Canada (+36 percent or +900 tonnes).
During the review period, total EU imports of mussels declined by 3 percent to total 42 400 tonnes compared with 43 600 tonnes in the same period the year before.
The largest importers inside the EU - France and Italy - consolidated their share to take 58 percent of total EU mussel imports. Inter-EU imports of mussels into smaller markets demonstrated a clear decline, such as Germany (-14 percent), Belgium (-10 percent) and the Netherlands (-48 percent).
These markets were traditionally important mussel consumers, but young consumers are not consuming the product as much as older generations have.
The two largest suppliers to the French market, The Netherlands and Spain, consolidated their market share, and in the first quarter comprised 59 percent of all French imports, at the expense of Italy and Denmark.
Notably, supplies from non-EU origin into the EU reached an unprecedented peak during the first quarter of 2016, accounting for 22 percent of total EU imports.
Organic mussel production within the EU continues to grow. Indeed, the largest offshore rope-grown mussel farm was started in early 2016 off the coast of southern England (pre-Brexit).
At full operation, production is expected to produce 10,000 tonnes of blue mussels Mytilus edulis. Denmark is also leading the organic production charge, with estimates of the country totaling over 2 000 tonnes of organic rope-grown mussels. ■