EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 3/2026 is online

This month’s issue analyses the evolution of first sales at the commodity group level and the first sales in EU Member States. It examines the consumption and extra-EU imports of other marine fish. The case studies featured this month are: “Fisheries and aquaculture in the UK: market: impacts of Brexit on EU aquatic food trade” and “Fresh sardine in the EU: Focus on Spain”.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in February 2026 ranged between 0,55 and 0,66 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Prices increased by an average of about 4,8% compared with the previous month and decreased by an average of 13,9% compared with the same month in 2025.

FIRST SALES IN EUROPE. The overall value of first sales in the period January - December in 2025 was 4,1 billion euros, a 3% increase compared to 2024, and 1% decrease compared to 2023. Overall volume was 2,0 million tonnes, a 4% decrease compared to 2024, and an 12% decrease compared to 2023. In 2025, first-sales value of the category “other marine fish” totalled 584,4 million euros, an increase of 1% compared to 2024. Monk (+4%) was the main commercial species contributing to the rise in first-sales value, while the category “other shark” was behind the decrease in first-sales volume (-12%).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS of other marine fish in the period from January to December 2025 accounted for a total value of 1,9 million euros and a total volume of 309.243 tonnes. Compared to the same period in 2024, the value increased by 8% and the volume decreased by 1%.

CONSUMPTION. Between January 2023 and December 2025, household consumption of other marine fish was monitored in ten Member States: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden. During this period, consumption volumes and prices showed a downward trend in volume and upward trend in price.

The most recent consumption data can be accessed here.

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN THE UK: MARKET: IMPACTS OF BREXIT ON EU AQUATIC FOOD TRADE. After Brexit, exports to other European (non-EU) markets increased sharply between 2019 and 2020, rising by 140% in volume and 103% in value., Export volumes to the EU have not returned to pre-Brexit levels, despite a strong increase of 11% in 2024 compared to 2023.

FRESH SARDINE IN THE EU: FOCUS ON SPAIN. Spanish imports of European sardines reached 63,134 tonnes and 121 million euros in 2025, with frozen sardines accounting for 70% of the imported volume. Exports totalled 29,135 tonnes and 77 million euros in 2025, with Portugal as the main destination for frozen and fresh sardines.

Monthly Highlights 3/2026 is available for download here.

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