EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 8/2025 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 freshwater fish. The case studies featured this month are: ‘Cod in the EU’ and ‘Mussels and oysters - latest market trends in the EU’.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in July 2025 ranged between 0,57 and 0,70 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Prices increased by an average of about 5,4% compared with the previous month and decreased by an average of 9,6% compared with the same month in 2024.

FIRST SALES IN EUROPE. The overall value of first sales in the period January-May in 2025 was EUR 1,49 billion, a stable value compared to 2024, and a 5% decrease compared to 2023. Overall volume was 848.611 tonnes, a 6% decrease compared to 2024, and a 19% decrease compared to 2023. In 2025, first-sales value of “freshwater fish” came to EUR 16,7 million, an increase of 69% compared to 2024. Eel was the main species responsible for the increase in first-sales value (+149%), while other freshwater fish was the main contributor to the decrease in first-sales volume (-8%).

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS of freshwater fish in In January – May 2025 accounted for a total value of EUR 261,0 million and total volume of 63.951 tonnes. Compared to the same period in 2024 the value of freshwater fish increased by 18% in value and increased by 16% in volume.

CONSUMPTION. Between May 2022 and May 2025, household consumption of freshwater fish was monitored in four Member States: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. During this period, consumption volumes showed an upward trend and prices showed a slightly increasing trend over the same period.

The most recent consumption data can be accessed here.

COD IN THE EU. In 2024, EU exports of cod reached 49,900 tonnes at EUR 334 million, a 2% increase in volume and a 5% decrease in value compared to 2023. In the same year, EU imports of cod products from third countries amounted to 319,000 tonnes (product weight), valued at EUR 2.2 billion. Compared to 2023, this represented a 10% decrease in volume and a 7% decrease in value.

MUSSELS AND OYSTERS - LATEST MARKET TRENDS IN THE EU. Total EU production of oysters amounted to 104.696 tonnes in 2023, originating exclusively from aquaculture. The main EU producer of oysters was France, representing 86% of EU production (1% of world aquaculture production). Between 2014 and 2023 EU production of mussels decreased by 20%, following the decrease in production by all major EU producers: -29% for Spain, -10% for Italy, -5% in France, and -40% in the Netherlands.

Monthly Highlights 8/2025 is available for download here.

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