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Cold journey from sea to table
(July 10, 2002) The delicacies of the sea are, well, delicate. Getting shrimp from the tropical waters of Thailand to gourmands in Germany takes tender loving care and carbon dioxide.
Hydrogas (Thailand) Co. Ltd. has been active in this market for three years now and has achieved recognition in the market for know how and technology.
"All food is perishable and especially seafood. In Thailand, the seafood industry has recognized that for several years, and approximately 80 percent of the frozen prawns for export is frozen by gas," says Jan Kleiven, applications support manager for Asia, who is based at Hydrogas (Thailand) Co. Ltd.
 FRESH AS CAN BE: Not everyone can buy prawns in a floating market in Bangkok, so carbon dioxide freezing preserves the catch for faraway markets. Other growing segments for Hydrogas are value-added chicken products and fruits and vegetables. (Photo: Terje S. Knudsen) |
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"Every hour after harvest, seafood deteriorates – reducing the quality of the product – if we don't do anything to preserve it. Our goal when freezing with CO2 is to keep the original quality, shape and freshness of the product. Using a cold gas like CO2 (-78 degrees centigrade) ensures quick freezing and reduces the freezing-and-thawing losses of the product."
Earlier, freezing took place relatively late in the process of getting prawns to the consumer. Hydrogas has moved freezes closer to the top of the list.
"Normally, most products are harvested, transported to the market, transported to the processing factory, processed, frozen and then exported," Kleiven explains.
"Hydrogas Thailand, together with one of the top five exporters and one of the biggest prawn farmers, has started a project with the goal to freeze the prawns right after harvesting. This will preserve more of the original quality and freshness of the prawns. This is part of Hydro Gas and Chemicals' long-time policy to be not only a supplier, but the customer's partner.
"Over the last 15 years, Hydro Gas and Chemicals has developed our own design for injection and distribution of CO2 in the various pieces of freezing equipment used for cooling and freezing applications in the food industry and has been recognized in the market, both in Europe and in Asia, as a key player. This is proved by the rapid growth we have achieved over the years and are achieving now in Thailand."
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Facts:
- CO2 market in Thailand (2001): 400,000 tons
- Market growth for CO2 (2000-2001): 21%
- Market share for Hydrogas (Thailand) in 2001 was 7.5%, up from 5.8% in 2000. Growing by 10,000 tons per year since 1998. Planned sale in 2002 is 40,000 tons.
- Export of prawns from Thailand has been stable between 130,000 to 150,000 tons per year for several years, but the percentage of gas-frozen prawns has grown every year and is now between 70 to 80 %. This represent 200,000 tons of CO2 or 50% of total market.
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