Surimi producers in Europe are struggling with higher costs, strong competition from Japan and retailers continuing to put the squeeze on them.
The supply of raw material to the market is more or less stable,Tomas Skierus, senior purchasing manager for Viciunai Group, told IntraFish, but the concern among processors is the surging demand in Japan.
Japan already accounts for around 40 percent of surimi raw material, and the strengthening Japanese yen only makes buyers there more powerful.
The yen has gone from around JPY 125,000 to $1 this time last year, to JPY 109,000 to $1 this year.
“There
