Latest trends
January 2021
The impact of COVID-19 on fish trade in Europe was heavy in 2020. First estimates put the total exports of fishery products from European countries at USD 55.5 billion, a 3.7 percent decline from 2019. EU-27 exports shrunk by 4.3 percent to USD 33.1 billion. The fisheries sector was one of the main stumbling blocks of the Brexit negotiations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union (EU). Finally the agreement was reached a few days before Christmas, after four years of intense negotiations. The Scottish fishers noted for most commercial stocks they are exploiting there will be a decrease in access to fishing quotas. On the EU side, Spanish fishers also lament a decline in access to fish resources. The impact of the Brexit deal on trade is still to be seen, logistic problems are likely to emerge in the short future. In fact, in the first days of the new year exporters from shipments from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the EU were experiencing trouble in exporting to the seafood market in Europe. Live trade, such as sales of bivalves were heavily impacted. Importers in the EU-27 have started to be impatient with the bureaucratic problems and are looking for other suppliers. The closure of restaurants due to the COVID-19 lockdown measures continues to impact the market, and traders who are normally targeting the restaurant market have to diversify, adding supermarket products and ready meals to their product choice. This is not easy for smaller traders and producers. In addition to the Brexit and the COVID-19, also the present strong winter weather is impacting the trade of fishery products in Europe. The heavy snow in Madrid, one of the main outlets of fishery products of the continent, leads to logistic and supply problems.
1
Index for prices Groundfish
7
Flatfish
8
Tuna
9
Small Pelagics
9
Cephalopods
10
Crustaceans
11
Bivalves
13
Salmon
13
Trout
14
Freshwater fish
14
Non Traditional Species
14
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.