During the first half of 2004, exports to the European Union (EU) of U.S. surimi increased 53 percent by volume, to 12,219 metric tons (MT), and 35 percent by value, to $19.2 million, compared with exports during January-June 2003. The twelve-month exports for calendar year 2003 totalled 19,893 MT valued at $33.8 million...

The strong exports reflect the growth in production of analogue seafood products manufactured in the EU and the popularity of convenience foods, including surimi sticks, shredded and sliced surimi, and other portioned products. Value-added surimi products come in a variety of flavours such as crab, lobster, scallop and others.
In recent years, production of analogue seafood products has grown in France and developed in Lithuania and Estonia, which acceded (with eight other nations) to the EU in May 2004. Although the post accession tariff on third-country imports of surimi has increased in Lithuania from 5 percent to 7.5 percent (EU rate), Lithuania's demand for high quality U.S. surimi is expected to remain strong. The tariff in Estonia has fallen to 7.5 percent from 12 percent.