Brussels, 02/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - Belgium, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal and Sweden registered increases in first-sales value in the first ten months of 2015, according to the latest version of the report by the EU market observatory for fisheries and aquaculture products, published on 27 January.
Spain landed 176,234 tonnes of fresh fish in January-October 2015, a 10% decrease compared with the same period in 2014. In January-October 2015, 19 out of the 28 reporting fishing ports recorded decreases in volume relative to the same period last year.
In the UK, first-sales value in January-October 2015 was €596.7 million, a 3% decrease from January-October 2014. The first-sales volume was 341,000 tonnes (-17%). The decrease in both value and volume was caused mainly by a lower mackerel quota.
In France, the main species experienced increases in January-October 2015 first-sales value, with the exception of seabass and sole. During this period France first sales increased 5% in value and decreased 6% in volume. Scarcity of landings of albacore tuna has been compensated by remarkable increase in prices (+65%). Hake price decreased slightly from October 2014. However, both first-sales value and volume, experienced increases.
In Denmark, herring, saithe, plaice, cod, and hake were the main contributors to increased first-sales value in the first ten months of 2015.
In Sweden, the increase in first-sales volume was due mainly to higher landings of cod and herring. The cumulative first sales of Norway lobster was €12.2 million and 900 tonnes in the first ten months of 2015 (+5% in value but -8% in volume compared to the same period in 2014).
Case study. French production of smoked salmon covers 77% of the domestic market and generates significant exports. Retail prices of smoked salmon in France have increased substantially since 2013 but at a slower pace than raw material and processing costs. The overall consumption of smoked salmon decreased since 2013 in volume but not in terms of expenditures. French consumers choose to reduce their consumption in favour of more expensive products.
Retail prices for fresh sardine in the UK, Spain, and Portugal fluctuate considerably during the year. In Portugal, retail prices for fresh octopus are on average 60% lower than in Italy.
Marine fuel in fishing ports in France, Italy and Spain reached approximately 41 cents/litre in November 2015, confirming the decrease observed since May 2015. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)