The international brand representing the Scottish seafood industry is using the latest figures in fish and seafood retail which predict a 3.3% growth between 2021-2024 to drives sales across the UAE.
Carried out by industry intelligence agency Global Data, the July 2021 research study was in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink and surveyed UAE based consumers. It not only found that the fish and seafood sector would bounce back post-pandemic, but that the frozen fish and seafood category would be the fastest forecasted performer with an expected CAGR of 4.4%. The foodservice sector is set for excellent growth within the same period at a CAGR of 10.6% and ambient fish and seafood foreseen at 11.8%.
The study also asked UAE consumers what best describes their daily diet with 14% identifying as a pescetarian, indicating that they follow a fish and seafood only diet. When asked what they would spend on certain products, 21% of consumers in the UAE indicated that they describe their spend on fish and seafood as ‘high’ due to buying high end or premium products – with 1/5th of consumers actively opting for more expensive options. A further 14% describe their spending as ‘high’ by virtue of buying larger portions or buying fish more frequently.
Supporting this study and adding further incentive for international seafood brands such as Seafood from Scotland, figures from the UK Department for International Trade produced by the UAE’s British Centres for Business state that 70% of UAE seafood product is imported with salmon being the most popular imported product in the UAE.
Landing over 540,000 tonnes every year across 60 species available commercially including both wild-caught and farmed seafood, seafood is Scotland’s largest food export amassing over £1 billion in revenue per year. Over two-thirds of the world’s langoustines are sourced in Scotland, with salmon being the number one export species for Scottish companies.
More than 80% of Scottish seafood is consumed outside of the UK and sold to over 120 countries across the globe, offering new markets such as the Middle East strong confidence in the country’s tried and tested exporting infrastructure. The primary sectors include shellfish, whitefish, pelagic, and farmed seafood, providing a rich array of high-quality options to buyers, chefs, and consumers alike across Dubai and the UAE.
Seafood from Scotland is available at a range of stockists across the UAE including Associated Seafoods, Cooke Aquaculture, Dawnfresh, Highland Smoked Salmon, John Ross Jr, Loch Duart Salmon, Loch Fyne Oysters, Loch Fyne Seafarms, MOWI Scotland, Scottish Sea Farms, The Scottish Salmon Company and Wester Ross Salmon
