“Seafood markets are very much conditioned by the state of the economy in these countries, and whilst the recent and fragile rise of the Euro against the USD offers hope to seafood operators — especially those importing seafood from third countries and paying in USD — many uncertainties remain,” said Correard.
He finds the Spanish and Italian markets doomed to short-term vision, in which it is difficult to detect any evidence of recovery. Refuge in more basic products, in cheaper alternatives species and in canned seafood, all show the fragility of the market. The countries’ fishing and fish processing sectors all face increasing production costs brought on by the economic situation, and continue to be hampered by unfavorable national regulations, including a 25 percent increase in the rate of VAT on seafood in
Imports have been affected, with tilapia fillets to
With seafood consumption in both countries continuing to decline, one of the measures put in place in 2012 to change consumer habits was the promotion of products from national fisheries, such as the “Enjoy eating fish campaign” launched by ANMAPE and CEPESCA in Spain, and the “Forgotten fish species from the Adriatic Sea” in Italy. However, such feel good campaigns were weakened by austerity measures imposed by
In
It is in this context that the French retail sector is setting up a new model of shopping that could pave the way for more modern food distribution channels in
Correard explains that consumer preference has moved away from big out of town hypermarkets to smaller in-town stores, which save them both travelling time and fuel costs. “In
In 2012 French retailers pushed this concept further, with the introduction of 100 “drive-through” distribution channels every month. Customers now have the option of picking up products ordered in advance on the internet, scanned on smart phones, or picked out at self-order kiosks. A recent study by Linéraires predicting that drive-throughs will be responsible for about 15 percent of annual growth in the food market in 2015 and represent a turnover of more than EUR 2 billion (USD, 2.7 billion).
With such developments comes the need for new convenience products and robust packaging, which are more attractive to consumers in an environment where physical contact with the product is disappearing. The challenge for processors is in reconciling conflicting expectations, namely fast shopping operations and controlled budget on one side, with a wide choice of desirable products on the other.
It is expected that the new distribution channels may accelerate the reorganization of traditional in-store fresh fish counters, with an increasing offering of vacuum packed and MAP packed chilled products making seafood easier to handle and transport, and offering a longer shelf live than fresh products. A recent survey by FranceAgriMer showed that acceptance of pre-packed seafood products in stores has already increased significantly.
“The survivors of the current crisis will be those companies able to adapt and innovate and it will be interesting to see how the market shapes up over the next twelve months,” said Correard.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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