France: Caviar towards a shortage for the 2021 holidays

"I would do anything for caviar", admitted Henry Kissinger, the famous American diplomat. For the late 2021 holidays, fans of these non-ovulated, unfertilized sturgeon eggs are likely to expect some shortage, with supply far below demand. And therefore higher prices than in previous years, especially for the best references, from beluga sturgeon (Huso huso), osetra (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), and Chinese hybrid (crossing Huso dauricus and schrenkii). Already at the end of 2020, a + 10% increase in wholesale prices had been noted by European traders, such as the Luxembourg company Gourmet Trade. Led by Iranian Ali Motahari, it was one of the first to import caviar from Chinese aquaculture, in mid-2000. Today, it also gets its supplies in Italy - the world's second largest producer behind China -, in Poland, Bulgaria, Uruguay, Germany, Iran, and of course offers French origins, mainly from Aquitaine, especially Acipenser baerii. , because of a clientele attached to the production ...