Total sales in fish markets were down by 4% in both volume and value from 2012, to €616 million and 209,103 metric tons, said the report.
Landings of all seafood categories (including whitefish, pelagics, cephalopods) were down, except for the segment of fine fish, it said.
The figures — which exclude around 100,000t of fresh fish and 150,000t of frozen fish sold outside the fish markets — show the biggest species in volume were sardine (nearly 19,000t, up 38%), scallop (15,500t, down 9%), monkfish (13,500t, down 1%) and cod (12,200t, up 23%).
These four were the only ones to exceed 10,000t in sales each last year.
An 8% drop in the average price of sardines, however, saw this species rank as only the 11th most valuable in sales, with €13.9 million, albeit a 26% increase on 2012.
The most valuable species instead were monkfish, which reaped 1% more in sales to €70.38m, and sole, down 5% to €67.68m.
Seabass was the third most valuable species, up 4% to €44.6m, followed by scallop (down 7% to €36.87m) and cod (up 20% to €30.57m).
Only three other species netted more than €20m in sales: langoustine, or crayfish (down 2% to €29.6m), squid (down 20% to €26.3m) and cuttlefish (down 28% to €24.5m).
FranceAgrimer said the poor landings were caused by adverse weather conditions in the first and latest quarters of the year.
The falling supply, however, helped offset a sluggish demand, so average prices at the first sale kept at €3.01 per kilo.
Whitefish landings down 8%, fine fish up
Whitefish landings decreased by 8% compared to 2012. The largest decreases were recorded for cod (- 26%) and haddock (- 31%). Prices are up for the majority of whitefish species, except for cod, due to increased competition from imports from the Barents Sea, it said.
Landings of fine fish, however, were on par with 2012′s as all species were stable or up from last year. The only exception was red mullet, which dropped 35% in volumes from 2012. Average prices for first sale of fine species were down by 1%, and the value of sales fell 2%.
Sardines up, mackerel, anchovy, herring down
Although sardine landings soared (38%, as mentioned above), overall pelagic landings fell last year by 1% in volumes, and the lower price of sardine helped drive a 10% drop in overall sales.
Anchovy sales were particularly down, falling 45% in volume to 4,100t and by 43% in value to €7.3m — ranking it bottom of the 20 species listed in the ranking, in value.
Mackerel sales fell 14% to under 7,000t, down 5% in value to €9.6m.
Squid, cuttlefish drive cephalopods down 25%
After four years of higher volumes, landings of cephalopods fell by 25% in 2013, and the sales value dropped 23%.
This was driven by poor catches of squid and cuttlefish, which dropped by 34% to 4,000t and 28% to 8,700t last year. In value, squid fell by a fifth to €26.3m, and cuttlefish by 28% to €24.5m.
Other categories of species, lobster, whose sales were down sharply in 2012, was not more abundant in 2013 (landings down 2%).
Scallop landings down 10%
Scallop catches were also affected by difficult weather during the fishing season of October to December, said FranceAgrimer. Volumes sold fell 9% during the year, to 15, 468t, driven by a 10% drop during the fishing campaign.
A sustained demand meant first sale prices were up 13% in December, but overall sales for the year were down 7% to €36.87m.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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