EUMOFA Monthly Highlights No. 8/2021 is online

This month’s issue analyses first sales of European pollack (Denmark, France, Spain) and sandeels nei (Poland, Sweden). The case studies of this month are: “Fisheries and Aquaculture in Morocco”; “Seabass and seabream in the EU”.

FIRST SALES IN EUROPE. In May 2021 compared to May 2020, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway all recorded an increase in both first-sales value and volume of fisheries and aquaculture products. The most recent weekly (up to week 39 of 2021) and monthly (July 2021) data for first sales in Europe is available on the EUMOFA website.

FIRST SALES OF POLLACK AND SANDEELS NEI. From June 2018 to May 2021, the weighted average first-sales price of pollack in France was 7,06 EUR/kg, 85% higher than in Denmark (3,82 EUR/kg), and 7% greater than in Spain (6,61 EUR/kg). Over the same period, in Sweden the weighted average first-sales price of sandeels nei was 0,28 EUR/kg. In Poland from June 2018 to April 2021, the weighted average price of sandeels nei was 0,17 EUR/kg - 61% lower than in Sweden.

EXTRA-EU IMPORTS. The price and volume of frozen haddock from Norway showed an upward trend since the beginning of 2021. The majority of prices were over 2,00 EUR/kg, and most volumes were less than 100 tonnes.

CONSUMPTION. Over the past 36 months (June 2018 – May 2021), total household consumption of Alaska pollock in Germany was 11.748 tonnes. Consumers in Germany spent an average of 12,23 EUR per month for a kilogram of the fish. The most recent weekly (up to week 39 of 2021) consumption data can be accessed on the EUMOFA website.

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN MOROCCO. In 2019, fishery catches in Morocco totalled 1,48 million tonnes, with the majority harvested from the country’s Atlantic region. Small pelagics are the primary catch, accounting for roughly 85% of fisheries production. Aquaculture is a relatively small sector in Morocco, and produced a yield of approximately 1.598 tonnes in 2019. The main marine aquaculture species are oysters, seaweeds, and European seabass, while the main freshwater aquaculture species are Nile tilapia, European eel, and rainbow trout. The EU is the main market for Moroccan exports of fisheries and aquaculture products, accounting for 59% of the total value of Moroccan seafood exports in 2020.

FARMED SEABASS AND SEABREAM IN THE EU. The EU aquaculture production of European seabass doubled from around 45.000 tonnes in 2000 to approximately 90.000 tonnes in 2020. Production of gilthead seabream in the EU increased from roughly 60.000 tonnes in 2000 to around 110.000 tonnes in 2020. The biggest EU producers of both seabass and gilthead seabream were Greece, Italy, Spain, and Croatia. In 2020, approximately 25.000 tonnes of whole European seabass was imported to the EU, at a value of roughly EUR 105 million. Turkey is the primary source of imports, supplying 96% of the total volume of seabass imported to the EU.

GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS. In July, the European Union and the Cook Islands agreed to continue their sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) for a further three years, following the success of the initial agreements.

MACROECONOMIC CONTEXT. Average prices for marine fuel in August 2021 ranged from 0,46 to 0,51 EUR/litre in ports in France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Prices decreased by an average of approximately 3,0% compared with the previous month, and increased by an average of 45,1% compared with the same month in 2020.

Monthly Highlights 8/2021 is available in English, French and Spanish.