EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 3/2023 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of grooved carpet shell and smooth callista in Italy, Portugal and Spain. The case studies of this month are: “Production and processing of fishery and aquaculture products in China” and “Ling in the EU”.

FIRST SALES OF GROOVED CARPET SHELL AND SMOOTH CALLISTA . Over the 36-month observation period (January 2020 to December 2022), the weighted average first-sales price of grooved carpet shell in Spain was 29,40 EUR/kg, 113% higher than in Italy (13,82 EUR/kg), and 155% higher than in Portugal (11,53 EUR/kg). During the same observed period of time, the weighted average first-sales price of smooth callista in Italy was 4,99 EUR/kg. This was 169% higher than in Portugal (1,85 EUR/kg), and 17% above that in Spain (4,25 EUR/kg).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. In 2023, price of frozen fillets of coalfish from Iceland has shown a stable trend, while volume has shown an upward trend. Price has ranged from 5,77 EUR/kg to 5,98 EUR/kg and volume from 181 tonnes to 277 tonnes. Price of frozen fillets of hake from United States has had a stable trend in 2023, while volume has increased. Price ranged from 2,25 EUR/kg to 3,16 EUR/kg and weekly supply from 483 tonnes to 895 tonnes.

CONSUMPTION. During the period January 2020–December 2022, the average retail price of halibut was 37,00 EUR/kg in Denmark, with a total amount of 242 tonnes sold. The average price in Sweden was 29% lower than in Denmark (26,32 EUR/kg), with the total amount consumed 43% lower, at 139 tonnes of LWE.

The most recent weekly consumption data (up to week 5 of 2023) can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS IN CHINA. During the first eleven months of 2022, the EU exported 155.766 tonnes of FAPs to China at a value of EUR 671 million. Compared to the same period in 2021 and 2020, this represented an 8% increase and a 17% decrease in volume respectively, and a 46% and 21% increase in value respectively.

LING IN THE EU. In 2021, the EU-27 imported 8.263 tonnes of ling at a value of EUR 17 million, mostly fresh (85% of the imports value). The major provider of ling to the EU market was the UK, accounting for 51% of the extra-EU import value, followed by Norway and Iceland (19% each), and the Faroe Islands (11%). France received 43% of the ling extra-EU imports value, being the main entry point for ling in the EU market.

GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS. On 4 March at the 5th Intergovernmental Conference in New York, global negotiations concluded on the landmark Treaty of the High Seas to protect the ocean, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss. The new treaty will allow to establish large-scale marine protected areas on the high seas, which are also necessary to meet the global commitment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement concluded last December to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. The EU and its Member States have been leading the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction High Ambition Coalition which played a key role in reaching the agreement.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel February 2023 ranged from 0,70 to 0,87 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Average prices decreased by 6,5% compared with the previous month and increased by an average of 12,8% compared with the same month in 2021.

Monthly Highlights no. 3/2023 is now available in English, French, and Spanish