Faced with the spectacular rise in production costs and worrying supply prospects, surimi professionals call on distributors and consumers to support their sector.
No raw material escapes the inflationary trend for the production of surimi. This exceptionally unfavorable situation endangers the economic balance of the activities of French manufacturers in this sector which employs a thousand people and provides 86% of consumption.. Beside the main raw material, Fish, whose price increased by 9% from February to May 2021, increases in other inputs, like the packaging, do not compensate for the phenomenon. Essential ingredient, representing 40 to 60% of the final cost, the fish mainly comes from deep-sea fishing. Among the species used, the Alaskan quail saw its price increase after the health crisis which caused locally, a reduction in the workforce penalizing crews and reducing supply. This shortage of Alaskan quail for the manufacture of surimi is not expected to ease and the supply outlook will remain tight until 2022. The other ingredients experience the same trend. Egg white increased by 25% between April 2020 and April 2021. The cost of rapeseed oil jumped 55% between July 2020 and July 2021. The low level of the 2021 harvest does not allow us to hope for improvement by 2022.
Increases as spectacular as ever
Added to these increases in raw materials are those in costs linked to packaging and transport.. The cost of freight has multiplied by more than four in one year and the tension on maritime freight accentuates the risks on supply. Packaging side, the prices of plastic films and trays have increased by 10 to 15%, and cardboard from 10 to 20%, following the prices of their own raw materials. Without prospect of improvement, companies are calling on their distribution partners and consumers to support this sector of French excellence. They will not be able to do without this economic support.
