“The EU Fish Market” 2025 edition is online

The EU Fish Market is the annual report produced by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA). The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector, analysing the latest trends in production, trade, prices and consumption across Member States. The 2025 edition covers developments in 2023–2024 and early 2025, offering insights into how economic conditions, inflation and global supply dynamics continue to shape the EU seafood market.

HIGH PRICES CONTINUE TO AFFECT EU HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION

According to the report, EU household expenditure on fishery and aquaculture products reached EUR 62,8 billion in 2024, growing by 4% compared with 2023. This marks the third consecutive year of rising spending. However, this growth reflects persistently high price levels, not an increase in consumption. At-home purchases of fresh fish continued to fall across the highest-consuming markets, decreasing by more than 4% between 2023 and 2024. Since 2020, prices for aquatic products have risen by over 25%: this contributed to the decline in household consumption, even if this price increase is less significant than for other animal proteins.

A SECOND YEAR OF DECLINING EU TRADE FLOWS

In 2024, the total nominal value of EU trade in fishery and aquaculture products fell by 1%, while volumes decreased by 0,5%. Despite this slowdown, 2024 still recorded the third-highest trade value of the decade (2015–2024).

• Intra-EU trade: 5,8 million tonnes worth EUR 31,7 billion (–1% for both value and volume).
• Extra-EU imports: 5,9 million tonnes worth EUR 29,9 billion (value –1%, volume stable).
• Extra-EU exports: EUR 8,3 billion (+1% in value), though volumes decreased by 1% to their lowest level since 2019.

These trends reflect a general slowdown following the sharp expansion observed in 2022 and continued inflationary pressures.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN THE EU TRADE BALANCE

The EU trade deficit narrowed by 2% in 2024 due to rising exports and reduced imports. Groundfish and non-food use products contributed to this improvement, while tuna species saw their trade deficit expand.

At Member State level, developments were mixed: Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands saw their deficits widen, whereas Denmark, Sweden and Germany recorded improvements.

LOWEST APPARENT CONSUMPTION IN A DECADE

Apparent consumption in the EU reached 22,89 kg per capita in 2023, the lowest level of the last ten years and 3% lower than in 2022. The decline was mainly driven by falling aquaculture production and lower imports, offset only partially by an increase in catches.

• Wild product consumption: 16,36 kg per capita (lowest in a decade)
• Farmed product consumption: 6,53 kg per capita (close to long-term average)

For the first time since 2018, the EU’s self-sufficiency rate rose, reaching 38,1%

KEY DYNAMICS OF MAJOR SPECIES

Salmon

EU salmon imports increased by 5% in 2024, supported by higher European aquaculture production. Import values remained stable at EUR 8,4 billion, among the highest ever recorded. Early 2025 data show strong growth in volumes (+12%), although values decreased due to lower prices.

Shrimps

Shrimp imports rose nearly 4% in volume in 2024, with values remaining stable. Warmwater shrimp accounted for 54% of import volume. In early 2025, shrimp imports further strengthened, with volumes increasing by 10% and values by 15% year-on-year.

Cod

Tighter quotas for Northeast Arctic cod supported rising prices, which reached EUR 6,90/kg in 2024. In early 2025, prices surged to EUR 8,22/kg, reflecting an 8% decline in supply.

Tuna

Tuna remained one of the most important species for EU consumers. In 2024, tuna imports increased by 18% in volume and 8% in value, driven primarily by skipjack and yellowfin. Growth continued into early 2025.

Alaska pollock

Import volumes fell by 17% in 2024, mainly due to reduced shipments from China. Early 2025 saw a rebound: +16% in volume and nearly +20% in value

MACROECONOMIC BACKGROUND

The 2025 edition highlights a stabilising economic environment:

• EU inflation declined from 6.4% (2023) to 2,6% (2024) and stabilised around 2,3% in 2025.
• Marine fuel prices dropped from 0,93 EUR/l in 2022 to 0,59 EUR/l in 2025, easing cost pressures on the EU fleet.
• Producer prices for fishery and aquaculture products showed moderate growth, following the sharp increases recorded in 2022.

Download The EU fish market - 2025 (soon available also in Spanish, German, French and Italian).

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