Germany is a big market for fish and fishery products with an annual consumption up to hundreds of tonnes. Frozen fish fillets made up the major part in terms of volume and value. Fish of all varieties and products are getting more popular and are seen as an alternative source of protein and healthy foods.
Imports of fish into Germany were increasing over ten years, but started to slide down since 2012. Imported fish products (HS03) totaled US$4.027 billion, 7.5 percent fewer than those in 2011, mainly due to economic downturn, which has still been weakening Germans’ consumption. The most favourist fishes are Alaska pollock, herring, salmon, tuna and pangasius.
In the first quarter of 2013, Germany sourced 4,877 MT of seafood products from 11 supplying countries, lower than 5,875 MT of the compatible quarter of 2012. It purchased most frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam with a volume of 4,877 MT, lower than 5,373 MT volume registered a year ago.
Entries of some whitemeat fish species into this market have been on the upward trend. Between January and March 2013, Germany bought 38,018 MT of frozen fillets of Alaska pollock, up from 37,459 MT and 5,831 MT of frozen cod fillets, higher compared to the 5,548 MT registered in January - March 2012.
Pangasius imports declined in the first quarter of 2013 because consumption demand for seafood was still weak, while other whitemeat fish with decreasing prices were fully available in the market. Germany is a price-sensitive market; therefore, consumers are turning to eat other whitemeat fish species, which fell to lower prices. Additionally, whitemeat fish traders are strengthening promotion of their products.
German consumers are currently focusing on seafood quality and price, so they mostly eat products with high prestige and certification of quality. Government also encourages consumers to buy sustainable fish. Most of local retailers put sustainable products into their purchasing policies. Therefore, finding certified-fish producers and suppliers is one of the priorities of German seafdood importers.
The first ASC-certified fish products have been largely promoted by ASC in Europe. However, it must take more time to educate European consumers about the benefits of ASC certification and certified products. Germany is one of the first markets supporting the appearance of these products. Lenk Seafood, a local fish retailer, says that there are still not much people knowing about ASC fish, so sustainably certified-fish products, including pangasius, may see opportunities of development in the market.
|
Top five exporters of frozen fish fillets (HS0304) into Germany, MT |
|||
|
Origin |
January 2013 |
February 2013 |
March 2013 |
|
China |
12,934 |
11,264 |
10,486 |
|
Denmark |
3,501 |
2,742 |
3,012 |
|
The U.S. |
2,930 |
4,042 |
2,884 |
|
The Netherlands |
1,322 |
1,579 |
1,672 |
|
Vietnam |
1,840 |
2,250 |
1,554 |
(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?
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
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