But ready-prepared seafood, fresh salmon and pre-packed portions offer clear opportunities for seafood players.
In general, sales of fresh fish are tipping slightly downward, but due to the French consumer's enduring appetite for fresh salmon, in the last 12 months up until the end August, sales of fresh fish rose by 3 percent. Fresh salmon now represents about a quarter of all fresh fish sales in
Salmon sales helped to bring fish sales ahead of other competing proteins. Fresh meat sales fell by 2 percent, and poultry consumption stabilized with the year-ending in August, according to FranceAgriMer.
But in terms of value, the average price of all fresh fish actually fell by 2 percent due to the significant 16 percent fall in the price of fresh salmon. The fall in salmon value negated the overall rise in price for all other fish species.
While whole fish sales continue to fall, pre-packed and filleted fish are an increasingly popular choice for French consumers. In 2012, a considerable 68 percent of all fresh fish was sold in pre-packed portions, compared to 63 percent in 2003.
Increased fresh seafood prices are “playing a role in the slowing down of consumption,” according to France AgriMer. Fresh bivalve sales fell by 2 percent, 9 percent for scallops and cephalopods, and 11 percent for crustaceans.
Deli products, by comparison, have suffered less, with only a light 1 percent fall in consumption over the past year.
Ready-prepared seafood recorded a healthy 4 percent hike in volume sales. A further bright spot is frozen breaded fish, which saw sales rising by 3 percent.
By contrast, frozen and canned seafood witnessed a downturn in consumption.
"We continue to note that the consumer is increasingly moving toward processed products," writes the government food agency.
Between 2003 and 2011, the deli slice of the market rose by nearly 10 percent, moving from 18 percent to 27 percent. This growth has largely to the detriment of fresh seafood, whose share has shrunk from 40 percent to 35 percent.
French exports of aquatic products (not including tuna, feed and oils) fell 2 percent in volume in the last 12 months to September. The average export price rose by 5 percent for the majority of products, equating to a 3 percent rise in value for exports.
And in the 12 months up until the end of August this year, imports of aquatic products (not including tuna, feed and oils) fell by 2 percent in volume. However the average price of products rose by 2 percent, enabling the total value of imports to remain stable.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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