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Seafood Preparation in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Federico Irigoyen Federico Irigoyen New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 31171CA

Revenue

$7.8bn

2024

$7.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

25,097

Businesses

476

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Seafood Preparation in Canada industry analysis

In recent years, Canada's Seafood Preparation industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving market. This sector, known for its critical role in the country's food industry and significant export contributions, has faced numerous challenges and opportunities. Recent performance highlights include steady growth driven by domestic consumption and exports, alongside an increasing focus on sustainability and innovation. These factors have shaped a dynamic landscape that continues to evolve with shifting consumer preferences and regulatory pressures. Industry revenue has been dropping an annualized 1.9% over the past five years and is expected to reach $7.8 billion in 2024. Revenue is expected to rise 2.4% in 2024 alone as profit reaches 5.8%.

Trends and Insights

  • Automated systems and robotics are revolutionizing seafood processing. These technologies reduce labor costs, boost production capacity and ensure consistent product quality, making the industry more efficient and able to meet rising consumer demands.
  • An appreciating Canadian dollar has made the domestic market more susceptible to import penetration via low-cost alternative products. The appeal of high-quality Canadian-sourced specialty products, in unison with a similarly appreciating US dollar, has enabled exports to rise in unison with imports, albeit to a lesser degree.
  • The Seafood Preparation industry in Canada is heavily concentrated in the Atlantic provinces, where most industry establishments are located. Due to the vast abundance of fish and seafood in the waters surrounding these provinces, fishing has long played a crucial role in the region's economy.
  • Domestic industry enterprises compete with imports, which satisfy almost half of domestic demand. The industry largely hinges on movement in the value of the Canadian Dollar and its relation to the value of the US dollar, given that the US is by far the largest trade partner for this industry.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $7.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Worldwide demand for seafood has improved due to rising health consciousness, rising global per capita income and population growth

  • With a recovering economy in 2021, industry revenue thrived, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Industry enterprises have benefited from solid export growth as Canadian seafood products remain in high demand globally.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Seafood Preparation in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Favourable trends propel the industry forward

  • Rising seafood prices, the continued growth of exports amid expanding export ties with Asia and global economic growth will drive industry revenue growth.

Biggest companies in the Seafood Preparation in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
High Liner Foods
234.0
14.1
6.0
Fisher King Seafoods
229.3
17.6
7.7
Cooke Aquaculture
184.8
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Seafood Preparation in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Other seafood products, Canned and preserved fish and Seafood and marine products. Other seafood products is the largest segment of the Seafood Preparation in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Seafood and marine products dominate the market

  • Seafood and marine products comprise most of the industry revenue, principally shellfish. Since these products command high price premiums, they maintain a sizable share of income.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry is involved in canning, smoking, salting, drying, freezing and packing fish and shellfish. Industry operators also eviscerate fish (remove parts from fish), shuck shellfish (remove their shells) and process fish and shellfish fats and oils. This industry also includes floating factory ships, also known as fish processing vessels, which are engaged in shipboard seafood processing. The term seafood processing is used to describe these activities as a whole.

What's included in this industry?

Seafood and marine productsCanned and preserved fishPreparing other seafood products

Companies

High Liner FoodsFisher King SeafoodsCooke Aquaculture

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

AQUACULTUREOMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDSHELLFISHFLOATING FACTORY SHIPS

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 311710 - Seafood Preparation in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Automated systems and robotics are revolutionizing seafood processing. These technologies reduce labor costs, boost production capacity and ensure consistent product quality,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

An appreciating Canadian dollar has made the domestic market more susceptible to import penetration via low-cost alternative products. The appeal of high-quality Canadian-sou...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Seafood Preparation industry in Canada is heavily concentrated in the Atlantic provinces, where most industry establishments are located. Due to the vast abundance of fis...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Domestic industry enterprises compete with imports, which satisfy almost half of domestic demand. The industry largely hinges on movement in the value of the Canadian Dollar ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is incredibly fragmented, with a plethora of smaller companies serving their immediate localities, and no single company capturing a large portion of the market. ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of High Liner Foods's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Fisher King Seafoods's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Cooke Aquaculture's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for High Liner Foods, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Fisher King Seafoods, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Cooke Aquaculture, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry largely hinges on per capita disposable income levels and consumer confidence. Although disposable income was temporarily depleted during the pandemic, overall f...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Larger industry enterprises can maintain higher profitability due to established economies of scale that enable them to manage costs. The rising price of seafood has pressure...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada is $7.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Seafood Preparation in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 476 businesses in the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Seafood Preparation market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Seafood Preparation market in Canada are High Liner Foods, Fisher King Seafoods and Cooke Aquaculture

What does the Seafood Preparation in Canada include?

Seafood and marine products and Canned and preserved fish are part of the Seafood Preparation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Seafood Preparation in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is High Liner Foods.

How competitive is the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Seafood Preparation industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.