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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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