EUMOFA has released the 2019 Edition of “The EU fish market”. We invite you to check the report’s highlights in this newsletter and to download the entire document in English. The French, Spanish, German and Italian versions will be released soon.
DESPITE HIGHER PRICES, EU HOUSEHOLDS INCREASED EXPENDITURE FOR FISH AND SEAFOOD
Expenditure for fish and seafood maintained an upward trend, reaching EUR 59,3 billion in 2018, with households of almost all EU countries spending more than in 2017. Consumer prices of fish and seafood increased an average 3% per year from 2009 to 2018, a higher growth rate than meat and food in general. In 2018, household consumption of fresh fish and seafood in top-12 EU consuming countries decreased in volume and value.
LESS FISH AND SEAFOOD AVAILABLE FOR EU CONSUMERS IN 2017 COMPARED WITH 2016
A reduction in catches led to a decrease in supply of fish and seafood available in the EU in 2017. Internal demand was primarily met through imports. The EU self-sufficiency ratio, which measures the capacity of EU Member States to meet demand from their own production, reached 43% in 2017 – in line with its 10-year average.
EU apparent consumption of fish and seafood was estimated at 24,35 kg per capita in 2017, half a kilo less than in 2016. Wild-caught products accounted for three-quarters of the total.
EU AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND LANDINGS BOTH SHOWED INCREASES
EU aquaculture production reached a 10-year high of 1,37 million tonnes in 2017, with a value of EUR 5,06 billion. Compared with 10 years ago, its volume increased 11%. The value almost doubled, due to increased production and prices of some species, such as salmon and seabass.
EU landings also reached a 10-year peak in 2017 – a volume of 4,68 million tonnes – mainly due to the significant growth of sandeel landings in Denmark. At the same time, the overall value of fisheries production slightly decreased.
INCREASED EU TRADE DEFICIT FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS
EU trade of fish and seafood, which encompasses trade flows with extra-EU countries and exchanges between Member States, reached EUR 59,53 billion in 2018, which represented a 74% growth from 2009. Still, the EU had a trade balance deficit of more than EUR 20 billion. From 2009 to 2018, the total value of extra-EU exports and imports increased by 93% and 65%, respectively. Intra-EU trade flows grew by 79% in value.
MAIN DYNAMICS OF MAJOR SPECIES
Tuna. Since 2008, none of the fishery and aquaculture products consumed in the EU had ever reached a level of annual apparent consumption higher than 3,00 kg per capita until 2017, when tuna achieved the peak of 3,07 kg per capita.
Seabass and gilthead seabream. From 2008 to 2017, the value of seabass and gilthead seabream farmed in the EU augmented considerably. Greece registered a 50% increase for both; in Spain, the increase for seabass was by 125%.
Cod. Consumption of cod followed an upward trend during 2008–2017. In the first half of the decade, it averaged 1,85 kg per capita, while in the second half it averaged 2,32 kg per capita, supported by increased imports from Norway, Iceland, Russia and China.
Alaska pollock. The supply of Alaska pollock to the EU market reached its highest volume ever – 305.000 tonnes – mainly driven by higher volumes imported from Russia.
Hake. In 2018, hake was the main contributor to the overall decline of the EU household consumption of fresh fish and seafood.
Download “The EU fish market: 2019 Edition” to: https://www.eumofa.eu/documents/20178/157549/EN_The+EU+fish+market_2019.pdf
