Four-fold increase in orders from Japan as Scots attend key expo

Exports:

Scottish seafood exports to Japan more than quadrupled in 2018 as Far Eastern consumers acquired a taste for this country’s fish and shellfish.

A total of 2,630 tonnes found its way to Japanese dinner tables last year, compared with 598 tonnes in 2017, trade body Seafood Scotland said yesterday.

The new record comes as a strong Scottish contingent descends on the 21st Japan International Seafood and Technology Expo seeking more business.

It is the biggest delegation from Scotland to the annual show to date and represents a substantial proportion of the Scottish seafood sector.

Two companies– Scrabster-based JPL Shellfish and Associated Seafoods of Buckie – are attending the event for the first time.

Also represented on the trip are Peterhead firms Denholm Seafoods, Lunar, the Crab Company Scotland and Northbay Pelagic.

Making up the trade mission to Tokyo are fish farmers the Scottish Salmon Company and Mowi, North Uist firm Hebridean Smokehouse and the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation.

Theexpo,whichstarts tomorrow and runs until Friday, will be attended by a host of international trade buyers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, as well as representatives from the Scottish restaurant trade. Around 35,000 visitors are expected to attend over the next three days.

Associated Seafoods commercial director Neil Greig said: “We see Japan as a new and exciting opportunity.

“Our premium Scottish smoked salmon is ideally placed to be well-received by arguably the world’s most discerning seafood consumer.”

Natalie Bell, head of trade marketing, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Seafood Scotland, said: “Asia, and in particular Japan, is one of the largest consumers of seafood in the world.

“Their desire for Scottish seafood is on the increase – mirroring their appetite for high-quality products.”

EASTERN PROMISE: Japanese consumers are increasingy enthusiastic about the quality of Scottish seafood exports