EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 4/2023 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of European smelt in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and meagre in France, Portugal and Spain. The case studies of this month are: “Fisheries and aquaculture in the UK” and “Brown crab in the EU”.

FIRST SALES OF EUROPEAN SMELT AND MEAGRE. Over the 36-month observation period from February 2020-January 2023, the weighted average first-sales price of European smelt in Lithuania was 3,96 EUR/kg, 2575% higher than Latvia (0,15 EUR/kg) and 437% above that in Estonia (0,74 EUR/kg). During the same observed period of time, the weighted average first-sales price of meagre in France was 8,40 EUR/kg. This was 1% higher than in Portugal (8,29 EUR/kg), and 88% above that in Spain (4,47 EUR/kg).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. In the first 7 weeks of 2023, the price of frozen cape hake from South Africa had increased. Price ranged from 2,45 EUR/kg to 3,73 EUR/kg and weekly supply showed high fluctuations from 62 tonnes to 1.199 tonnes. Since the beginning of the year, price of fresh or chilled fillets of Nile perch from Uganda had a downward trend. Price ranged from 5,04 EUR/kg to 5,61 EUR/kg and supply fluctuated from 55 tonnes to 101 tonnes.

CONSUMPTION. In January 2023 compared to January 2022, household consumption of fresh fisheries and aquaculture products declined in both volume and value in all Member States analysed. The highest drop was observed in Denmark, with a 39% decrease in volume and 34% decrease in value. This month the focus is on consumption of sardine in France, Portugal and Spain.

The most recent weekly consumption data (up to week 12 of 2023) can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN THE UK. In 2022, the UK exported 316.970 tonnes of FAPs at a value of EUR 2,0 billion. Compared to 2019, this was a 29% decrease in terms of volume and a 12% decrease in terms of value. Regarding imports, in the same year, the UK imported 644.451 tonnes of FAPs at a value of EUR 4,3 billion. On a global scale, the UK’s imports of FAPs have decreased since 2019, going from 3,1% and 4,4% of global import volume and value (respectively) in 2019 to 2,7% and 3,8% in 2022.

BROWN CRAB IN THE EU. In 2021, the EU-27 trade deficit for brown crab products amounted to EUR 31 million. In the same year, the EU-27 imported 11.233 tonnes of brown crab at a value of EUR 58 million, mostly live, fresh or chilled (65% of the imports value). The major provider of brown crab to the EU market was the UK, accounting for 89% of the extra-EU import value, followed by Norway (11%).

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel March 2023 ranged from 0,67 to 0,88 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Average prices decreased by 3,2% compared with the previous month and by 17,5% compared with the same month in 2022.

Monthly Highlights no. 4/2023 is now available in English, French, and Spanish

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