The EU is a major world market for fishery and aquaculture products (FAP), whose internal demand is mostly covered by import from other countries. The trade between EU Member States is also of significant importance to cover the demand for FAPs in the different markets within the EU. The preference for fishery and aquaculture products varies between Member States with Portugal having the highest apparent per capita consumption of 54,5 kg LWE in 2022 followed by Spain (41,9 kg LWE) and France (32,6 kg LWE). Czechia had the lowest with 5,9 kg LWE per capita in 20221.
Trade policies, tariffs and geopolitical developments affect the trade between the EU and third countries. The EU imports a variety of FAPs from the US which are important to meet the EU’s demand for certain products. In addition, the US market has increasingly become important as a destination market for fishery and aquaculture products from the EU.