Sole in the EU

The study analyses the market of sole in the EU, focusing on the price structure along the supply chain in France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In 2022, the EU accounted for 66% of the total global catches, with the Netherlands, France and Belgium as main producing countries. France is the largest market for sole in the EU, facing a 44% decrease in consumption over the past decade. Catches in France have decreased by 58%, mainly due to resource depletion in the North Sea. The Netherlands is the second-largest producer and fifth-largest market in the EU. Sole consumption in the Netherlands has decreased by 68% over the past decade. Larger soles are exported, while smaller sizes are preferred for local consumption. Belgium is the fourth-largest market in the EU, with a consumption decrease by 27% in the last decade. Belgian production has also decreased by 33%.

The study is available for download here.