Brussels, 24/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Seven EU countries - Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, and UK - saw first-sales value increase in January-February 2016 over the same period last year, according to a report published on Monday 23 May by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products.
Spain landed 25,471 tonnes of fresh fish in January-February 2016, 8% less than in January-February 2015. Of the 23 reporting ports in Spain, 11 recorded decreases in volume relative to the same period last year. The trend was confirmed in February 2016, when Spain landed 13.987 tonnes of fresh fish, 11% less than in February 2015.
Belgium and Sweden saw falls in both value and volume of first sales. In Latvia, an increase in the volume landed, combined with a 12% decrease of the average price, resulted in lower first-sales value (-5%).
In the UK, the accumulated first-sales value and volume increased 11% and 8%, respectively, over January-February 2015.
In February 2016, large increases in value among the major species landed w ere for Norway lobster (+53% in France and +47% in Denmark) over February 2015. Significant decreases in volume were recorded for herring (-28% in Denmark, -6% in Sweden and -3% in Latvia).
The report shows that demand for fishery and aquaculture products in the EU is strong with consumption per capita increasing. This is reflected in EU imports, which have increased by one billion a year on average, since 2009.
In 2015, EU imports from third countries amounted to €22.3 billion, which represents a 6% or €1.3 billion increase over 2014 and a 9% increase in the average import prices. Exports to third countries grew by 3%, to €4.5 billion, with a 16% higher average price than in 2014. The EU trade deficit reached its highest level at €17.8 billion, 30% higher than ten years ago. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)