Codfish industry in Portugal triggered an alarm in order to elude national crash
Caio Alves
Published 2020년 8월 19일
The fact that the Portuguese are consuming more imported cod, coupled with the closure of restaurants, leaves the sector alarmed. From May to July the Association of Industrial Codfish (AIB) asked Portuguese distribution companies and restaurants to help promoting the consumption of their product, in order to guarantee thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
In a letter sent to the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) and the Association of Hospitality, Catering and Similar Establishments (AHRESP), AIB expressed its concern regarding the future of this industry, given the difficulties it is experiencing due to the pandemic of covid-19.
In its universe of associates, AIB gathers more than 80% of the industrial production of cod in Portugal, equivalent to around 400 million euros of annual turnover, directly employing thousands of workers.
According to AIB, in the first months of the year, imports of dry salted cod grew at double digits, instead of those of national production, which negatively affected its associates and the country's economy, with all the harmful effects that this situation brings about in terms of labor sustainability and value creation.
As a result, there was the entry into a lay-off regime of about 40% of this universe and with possible future consequences, namely in the extinction of jobs, potentially.
In this context, and since there are campaigns that promote the consumption of national products, AIB considers that there is a mutual opportunity to create value in national distribution and industry, thus allowing to reduce the value of imports, generate jobs and income for the Portuguese economy.
We are fully available to participate in the definition of a strategy for customers, in order to clarify how they can recognize and decide, in an informed way, to buy cod that has been processed by a Portuguese industry, underlined the association.
AIB also explains that the Portuguese cod industrial units are equipped with the latest technologies and comply with all regulatory requirements in terms of hygiene and food safety.
According to the association, there is currently a group of Portuguese producers that have a presence in the food distribution chains, but the high market share that foreign companies occupy, namely with regard to dry salted cod.
In a letter sent to the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) and the Association of Hospitality, Catering and Similar Establishments (AHRESP), AIB expressed its concern regarding the future of this industry, given the difficulties it is experiencing due to the pandemic of covid-19.
In its universe of associates, AIB gathers more than 80% of the industrial production of cod in Portugal, equivalent to around 400 million euros of annual turnover, directly employing thousands of workers.
According to AIB, in the first months of the year, imports of dry salted cod grew at double digits, instead of those of national production, which negatively affected its associates and the country's economy, with all the harmful effects that this situation brings about in terms of labor sustainability and value creation.
As a result, there was the entry into a lay-off regime of about 40% of this universe and with possible future consequences, namely in the extinction of jobs, potentially.
In this context, and since there are campaigns that promote the consumption of national products, AIB considers that there is a mutual opportunity to create value in national distribution and industry, thus allowing to reduce the value of imports, generate jobs and income for the Portuguese economy.
We are fully available to participate in the definition of a strategy for customers, in order to clarify how they can recognize and decide, in an informed way, to buy cod that has been processed by a Portuguese industry, underlined the association.
AIB also explains that the Portuguese cod industrial units are equipped with the latest technologies and comply with all regulatory requirements in terms of hygiene and food safety.
According to the association, there is currently a group of Portuguese producers that have a presence in the food distribution chains, but the high market share that foreign companies occupy, namely with regard to dry salted cod.
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