EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 10/2023 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of Common shrimp in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and Norway lobster in France, the Netherlands and Sweden. The case studies of this month are: “The fishmeal and fish oil processing industry in Denmark” and “The EU market for halibut species”.

FIRST SALES OF COMMON SHRIMP AND NORWAY LOBSTER. Over the 36-month observation period (September 2020 to August 2023), the weighted average first-sales price of Norway lobster in France was 12,82 EUR/kg, 108% higher than in the Netherlands (6,17 EUR/kg), and 1% above the average price in Sweden (12,67 EUR/kg). During the same period, the weighted average first-sales price of common shrimp in Belgium was 5,66 EUR/kg, 7% higher than in Germany (5,31 EUR/kg) and 30% higher than in the Netherlands (4,37 EUR/kg).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. Between weeks 01/2023 and 38/2023, the price of frozen lobster from Canada showed high fluctuations and a downward trend. The price ranged from 3,55 EUR/kg to 121,40 EUR/kg, and volume fluctuated highly between 436 kg to 85 tonnes. In 2023, the price of frozen deepwater rose shrimps from Morocco showed a fluctuating increasing trend. Price ranged from 7,78 EUR/kg to 16,23 EUR/kg, and volume fluctuated strongly between 234 kg and 229 tonnes.

CONSUMPTION. This month the focus is on plaice in Germany and the Netherlands. Over the past three years, household consumption of fresh plaice in Germany has been 2.875 tonnes, which is an average of 958 tonnes/year. Consumption in the Netherlands was 797 tonnes, with a yearly average of 266 tonnes. As for prices, in 2023 the average price of plaice is 18,52 EUR/kg in Germany, while in the Netherlands it is 12% higher at 20,75 EUR/kg.

The most recent weekly consumption data (up to week 43 of 2023) can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

THE FISHMEAL AND FISH OIL PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN DENMARK. Over the past decade, production of fishmeal and fish oil in Denmark peaked in 2017 with 215.000 tonnes fishmeal and 53.000 tonnes fish oil produced. Since then, production has generally declined in tandem with landings for industrial use. In the decade reported production was at its lowest in 2022 when 120.000 tonnes of fishmeal and 35.000 tonnes of fish oil were produced in Denmark. This corresponds to a 44% decrease in fishmeal production and 34% decrease in fish oil production compared to 2017.

THE EU MARKET FOR HALIBUT SPECIES. Halibut trade between the EU and third countries essentially consists of trade in frozen whole Greenland halibut. The EU is a net exporter of halibut products, with a trade surplus of 73 million EUR. In 2022, extra-EU imports of halibut accounted for 250 million EUR and a volume of 43.966 tonnes. In value terms, 90% of these imports consisted of frozen whole fish (93% in volume), and 10% of fresh whole fish (7% in volume). The same year, extra-EU exports for both Greenland and Atlantic halibut species, accounted for 323 million EUR and a volume of 54.080 tonnes.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for Marine fuel in October 2023 ranged between 0,78 and 0,86 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Prices decreased by an average of about 2,6% compared with the previous month, and they also decreased by an average of 26,1% compared with the same month in 2022.

Monthly Highlights no. 10/2023 is now available in English, French, and Spanish.

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