French and German seafood consumption continues to grow despite recession

News 09:06 10/10/2012 ĐNH
(SeafoodSource) Fish consumption in leading Western European countries is steadily growing, despite the effects of the global recession and the problems in the local fisheries sectors. The global financial crisis and its effects have not resulted in a sharp decline of fish consumption in Germany and especially France, where the demand for fish and seafood appears higher than it was just a few years ago.

In the case of Germany, this year local consumers are eating fish and seafood as never before. In 2011 the average per capita fish and seafood consumption in the country reached the record figures of 15.7 kilograms and this year continues to rise, along with retail prices. The biggest demand for fish is currently observed in the north of the country and in particular Hamburg, the country’s second largest city. 



Matthias Keller, head of the German Fish Information Centre, comments "This confirms a long-term trend. Until the 1980s, the per capita consumption was only 11 kg. The consumption is growing despite the fact that the average selling prices for seafood and fish have increased last year by 3.6 per cent, higher than for other food products. Consumers are willing to pay that. In the future we will have to get used to higher prices for fish and seafood ".



According to German Fish Information Centre, currently Alaska pollock remains the most consumed type of fish in Germany, with a share of 23.3 percent, followed
 by herring and salmon, with market shares estimated at 20 percent with 12.8 percent respectively.

 

French consumption is even stronger.  Per capita consumption of fish in France is also growing and last year reached 32.4 kg per capita. Currently France ranks 5th in the EU in terms of per capita fish consumption, with Portugal the largest consumer with 61.6 kg, while Bulgaria is the lowest (4.2 kg).

France has never faced with a problem of low fish consumption, but has experienced production problems in its domestic fisheries. The country heavily depends on the fish and seafood imports from abroad, with local production providing only 38% of domestic needs. In comparison, during the 1990s the local production provided 68% of domestic consumption.   One of the reasons for this shift is higher consumption, which has significantly increased since 1990s.  New England, which exports significant seafood products to France such as scallops and monkfish, has benefited from the growth of this market.

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

VSS2026: The US$1.7 billion gap and Vietnam’s seafood growth challenge towards 2029

 |  17:41 10/11/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?

Vietnamese tuna bucks the import trend in Germany

 |  08:46 07/11/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.

VSS2026: Seafood exports top USD 10.4 billion in 10 months – how should seafood businesses prepare for 2027?

 |  08:26 05/11/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.

Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026: From market forecasts to answers for 2027–2029 growth

 |  17:17 31/10/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.

Vietnamese seafood affirms its position at the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026

 |  12:42 29/10/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.

Vietnam’s tilapia exports to CPTPP grow strongly but remain small in scale

 |  08:09 28/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.

Five key questions facing the seafood industry to be discussed at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026

 |  14:58 22/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports face market volatility at year-end

 |  16:43 21/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.

Vietnam’s seafood industry in 2027–2029: Where will new growth opportunities come from?

 |  14:56 19/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.

Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the middle east recover, but growth remains uneven

 |  16:04 15/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.

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