EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 1/2024 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of Common cuttlefish in Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal and European squid in France, the Netherlands and Spain. The case studies of this month are: “Fisheries and aquaculture in Colombia” and “Skipjack tuna in the EU”.

FIRST SALES OF COMMON CUTTLEFISH AND SQUID. Over the 36-month observation period (November 2020 to October 2023), the weighted average first-sales price of European squid in Spain was 13,36 EUR/kg, 103% higher than in France (6,58 EUR/kg) and 69% higher than in the Netherlands (7,91 EUR/kg). During the same period, the weighted average first-sales price of common cuttlefish in Portugal was 5,95 EUR/kg, 113% higher than in the Netherlands (2,80 EUR/kg), and 79% above the average price in Belgium (3,33 EUR/kg).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. Between week 1/2023 and week 51/2023, the price of frozen squid from China fluctuated slightly ranging from 4,02 EUR/kg to 5,90 EUR/kg. Supply fluctuated strongly between 29 tonnes and 487 tonnes. In 2023, the price of frozen squid from Morocco showed a fluctuating and decreasing trend. Price ranged from 9,10 EUR/kg to 13,94 EUR/kg, and volume fluctuated strongly between 64 tonnes and 557 tonnes.

CONSUMPTION. This month we focus on flounder in Denmark and Sweden. From November 2020 to October 2023, volumes of flounder consumption show a decreasing trend in both countries. In 2023 the volumes were 414 tonnes in Denmark and 79 tonnes in Sweden.

The most recent consumption data can be accessed here.

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN COLOMBIA. In 2021, fisheries production in Colombia amounted to 185.889 tonnes. This was a 45% decrease in volume compared to 2020. In 2021, aquaculture production in Colombia amounted to 192.521 tonnes at a value of EUR 607 million. Compared to 2020, this was a 7% increase in production volume and a 18% increase in production value. Compared to 2021, Columbia saw a decrease of 27% in volume and 6% in value in imports from EU, primarily due to lower volumes of skipjack and yellowfin tuna, and fish oil.

SKIPJACK TUNA IN THE EU. In 2023, reported first sales of skipjack tuna in EU countries amounted to a volume of 18.036 tonnes and a value of 28,9 million EUR . The main EU country in terms of first-sales volume and value was by far Spain (77% of total volume and 79% of total value), followed by Portugal (22% of total volume) and Italy (1%). In 2022, the EU imported 337.103 tonnes of skipjack tuna, worth EUR 1,5 billion, primarily prepared and preserved. Ecuador was the main provider, followed by Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and France.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in January 2024 ranged between 0,66 and 0,81 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Prices increased by an average of about 2,1% compared with the previous month and fell by an average of 12,7% compared with the same month in 2022.

Monthly Highlights no. 1/2024 is now available here.

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