But while consumption went down, the value of the total seafood market sales increased by 1.3 percent from €3.2 billion ($4.2 billion) in 2011 to €3.3 billion ($4.3 billion) last year, Matthias Keller, managing director at the association and vice president of the European
Federation of National Organisations of Importers and Exporters of Fish (CEP), told IntraFish. "We are happy with the average household spending on seafood," he said. "Consumers still appreciate their fish." Nevertheless, annual per capita consumption dropped to 14.9 kilograms from previously 15.2 kilograms, he said.
Volumes of fresh fish consumed dived 8.6 percent year-on-year from 56,756 metric tons in 2011 to 51,888 metric tons last year. The main reason was a 4.7 percent average price increase from €12.61 ($16.50) per kg in 2011 to €13.21 ($17.30) per kg last year.
Frozen fish products remained at about the same levels, Keller said, but marinades and other pickled fish also saw a decline from 70,851 metric tons to 66,400 metric tons last year.
This was mainly due to rocketing prices of herring,he said. The average price for a kilogram of marinated product shot up by 12 percent to €5.29 ($6.90), compared to €4.71 ($6.20) in 2011.
The only exemption in the category was the smoked fish segment, which saw an increase in both volume and value.
Consumers not only bought 5.5 percent more smoked fish -- mainly salmon and trout -- but also spent more, Keller (pictured left) said. Total value of the smoked fish segment went up from €583 million ($764.1 million) in 2011 to €604 million ($791.6 million) last year.
Keller, who will celebrate his 25th anniversary at the helm of the German Fish Processors Association on 1st of July 2013, isnevertheless optimistic, saying consumers are still "interested"in the category.
Stronger 2013
This is reflected in the figures available for thisyear. While Keller wasn't able to share any specific details, he said
Both the volume and value went up in the first five months of the year by 3 percent in volume and 7 percent in value, respectively.
The volumes of fresh fish sold went up 2.6 percent,despite an increase in value of 8 percent.
Frozen fish saw 1.7 percent higher sales, with a growth in value of 2.7 percent, and sales of marinated products went up 1.6 percent, with a whopping increase in value of 4 percent.
Also the smoked segment saw an "excellent development" in thefirst five months of the year, Keller told IntraFish
The sold volume went up 13 percent, and value increased 15 percent. "The smoked segment is showing the biggest increase," he said, adding demand is expected to stay strong.
Need for raw material price stability
How demand will evolve for the rest of the year is dependent on development in consumer prices, Kellersaid.
He predicted a relatively stable whitefish market, but the question how demand for salmon is going to pan out throughout the year is still open.
"Demand for fish is growing, which is why we would need more stability in price development," he told IntraFish
Fish farmers in particular should be able to createa predictable and stable pricing environment, he said.
"If we can increase consumer prices with caution and with careful price management, consumers will accept higher prices for fish in the future."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn