Spain’s cannery sector invoiced EUR 833 million last year, representing 3 % increase in value compared to 2002. The country’s production of canned fish and shelfish registered 279,686 tons representing a 5% volume growth.
Exports represented 50% of production with a value of EUR 413.7 million, and reached 117,233 tons volume, of which 90,386 tons were generated in Galicia. Exports in 2003, however, ascended to 118,287 tons. The Galician cannery sector represents 85% of the national production. Galicia invoiced EUR 714,8 million in 2003 and the volume reached 236.912 tons, according to data provided by Mr. Juan Manuel Vieites, Secretary General of the National Association of Canned Fish Producers (ANFACO) during a presentation given in the Sea Museum of Galicia, located in Vigo.
The statistics provide by ANFACO indicate that canned tuna has become a main export product; the invoice value represents 61.87% and the volume 62.63%. According to Mr. Vieites, the European Union is the main destination for these products with 83%; the exchange rate EURO-USD caused an impact in the exports by a 1% volume reduction, which he considered as “insignificant†given it means the “consolidation an stability†of the sector.
Mr. Vieitas also indicated that Galicia is the biggest producer of canned fish in Europe and ranked third worldwide behind Thailand and the United States. He also emphasized that modernization of Spanish companies has contributed to making the industry more competitive internationally. In Spain there are almost 100 fish and shellfish canneries employing 15,500 people, of which 67 with 12,000 workers are located in Galicia.