April 2021 4/2021
Latest trends The Lent period led to strong demand for fishery products, especially in Spain and Italy. Prices trended upward for the main groundfish species. In Spain, a shortage of shark led to a doubling of prices in just one month, between March and April 2021. In the near-term, the rate of market recovery depends primarily on the reopening of restaurants in European countries. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is in the process of restarting the foodservice sector and demand for seafood is likely to increase as a result. In the European Union, vaccination programs are proceeding slower than was anticipated at the start of the year, and restaurants remain closed in several important markets, negatively impacting seafood businesses.
GROUNDFISH Increasing demand and rising prices are reported in Russia for Alaska pollock and herring due to limited availability. On 6 April 2021, catches of Alaska pollock by the Russian reached fleet 723 900 tonnes, which is 16.8 percent lower than the same period in the previous year. Over 400 Russian companies are seeking to re-obtain their rights to export to China, and the supply crisis has led to significant problems in the European market, which is heavily dependent on imports of Alaska pollack fillet that are processed in China. Prices are now on the rise.
1
Index for prices
Groundfish
8
Flatfish
9
Tuna
10
Small Pelagics
11
Cephalopods
11
Crustaceans
12
Bivalves
13
Salmon
14
Trout
14
Freshwater fish
14
Non Traditional Species
15
Seabass-SeabreamMeagre
15
The European Fish Price Report, based on information supplied by industry correspondents, aims to provide guidance on broad price trends. Price information is indicative and should be used only for forecasting medium- and long-term trends. FAO is not responsible for any errors or omissions.