EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 4/2026 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 flatfish. The case studies featured this month are: “Salmon processing industry in the EU "and “European anchovy in the EU - focus on the Atlantic seaboard”.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in April 2026 (prices up to April 21st 2026), ranged between 0,93 and 1,05 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Prices increased by an average of about 67,2% compared with the previous month and by an average of 55,0% compared with the same month in 2025. With oil tankers having been blocked in the Strait of Hormuz, even with an easing of the blockage, impacts on marine fuel prices, and thereby on the markets for fisheries and aquaculture products, can be expected to last some time.

FIRST SALES IN EUROPE. The overall value of first sales in January 2026 was 270,7 million euros, a 15% decrease compared to 2025, and 5% less compared to 2024. The volume was 140.060 tonnes, a 13% decrease compared to 2025, and a 14% decrease compared to 2024. In 2026, first-sales value of the category “flatfish” totalled 26,7 million euros, a 1% increase compared to 2025. First-sales volume amounted to 3.162 tonnes, a decrease of 8% compared to 2024. Common sole (+6%) was the main species driving the growth in first-sales value while European plaice (−29%), accounted for most of the reduction in first-sales volume.

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS of flatfish in the period in January 2026 accounted for a total value of 40,0 million euros and a total volume of 6.847 tonnes. Compared to the same period in 2025, the value increased by 25% and the volume increased by 9%.

CONSUMPTION. Between February 2023 and January 2026, household consumption of flatfish was monitored in ten Member States: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Sole was the most commonly consumed flatfish in these countries. Its consumption changes throughout the year, reaching a peak in June and dropping to its lowest levels between December and January. .

The most recent consumption data can be accessed here.

SALMON PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN THE EU Poland is the leading EU processor of smoked salmon, with reported volumes rising from about 55.000 tonnes in 2015 to more than 70.000 tonnes in 2020 and over 79.000 tonnes in 2024, accounting for nearly half of total EU smoked salmon production in the most recent years. France, Lithuania, Denmark and Spain also play important roles.

EUROPEAN ANCHOVY IN THE EU - FOCUS ON THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD In 2025, intra-EU exports amounted to 38.341 tonnes of European anchovy products at a value of EUR 171 million. The intra-EU trade was dominated by prepared or preserved anchovy, which accounted for 47% of the trade value, followed by fresh or chilled products (35%), and frozen products (12%). The main exporting countries within the EU were Spain (38% of the intra-EU export value) and Italy (20%).

Monthly Highlights 4/2026 is available for download here.

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