The European Commission (EC) has tabled its annual proposal on next year’s guide prices for fresh and frozen fisheries products, and the European Union (EU) producer price for tuna processing.
After the positive trend in the market for fisheries products observed in 2010 and 2011, the deterioration of the economic situation has influenced consumer demand and fish prices. Prices for whitefish have broadly tended towards stability or slight decline, with some positive quotations due to the growing consumption in emerging countries.
In the light of this development, the Commission proposes a range of -1 per cent to +1.5 per cent for the prices of whitefish species.
Pelagic species are in demand in the EU and world-wide due to their affordable prices. Therefore, the Commission proposes increasing the guide prices for pelagic species between +1.5 per cent and +2.5 per cent.
For frozen fish the prices in the international markets are mixed.
The Commission proposes increases between +1 per cent and +3 per cent for Greenland halibut, whole hake, cuttlefish, octopus and squid (loligo) and reductions between -1 per cent and -2 per cent for hake fillets, swordfish, Illex and prawns (parapenaeus). With regard to tuna intended for processing, the Commission proposes increasing the EU producer price by +2 per cent.
The proposed guide prices are based on Member States' average market prices over the previous three years. Other factors taken into account include trends of production and market demand, the interests of consumers and the need to avoid withdrawals of fisheries products from the market.