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) 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.
(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.
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