European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA)
Mackerel in the EU
In 2021, world production of mackerel was 4,42 million tonnes, almost exclusively from wild caught fisheries (99,9%). The major world producers are China, Japan and Indonesia with over 370.000 tonnes of catches each (these three countries accounted for 30% of the world production in 2021), followed by Russia, Norway and the EU-27 (between 260.000 and 272.000 tonnes each). The catches in the EU-27 accounted for 6% of the world production.
EU-27 production of mackerel peaked at 423.000 tonnes in 2017 and has decreased in recent years up to 261.161 tonnes in 2021. The evolution of catches is linked to the evolution of TACs (total allowable catches) and quotas. Main producers of mackerel within the EU-27 are Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Lithuania, with catches in 2021 between 25.000 and 61.000 tonnes each.
The EU-27 apparent consumption was 272.741 tonnes live weight equivalent (LWE) in 2021, with a slightly negative trade balance (475.002 tonnes LWE of imports vs. 463.422 tonnes LWE of exports). There are important trade flows for mackerel, both intra-EU and extra-EU. Almost all catches from Ireland (the major EU producer) are exported, thus, the consumption in this MS is very limited. There are important imports from the UK, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland to the EU-27; part of these imports are products caught by third countries’ vessels and landed in the EU-27. Main destinations for extra-EU export are the UK, Nigeria, Faroe Islands, Egypt and Norway.
The main EU markets (in terms of apparent consumption) for mackerel are Poland and France (with 47.296 tonnes LWE and 46.490 tonnes LWE), followed by Spain (34.229 tonnes LWE), Romania (32.983 tonnes LWE), Lithuania (29.246 tonnes LWE), Italy (25.201 tonnes LWE) and the Netherlands (23.972 tonnes LWE).
The present report focuses on three MS (Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands) where the national consumption of mackerel is mainly for processed products: canned mackerel in Spain and Portugal, smoked mackerel in the Netherlands.
In Spain, national catches were 36.213 tonnes in 2021 and national apparent consumption was estimated at 34.229 tonnes LWE. There are high imports and exports of frozen mackerel. This may be used as raw material for the canning industry. Canned mackerel accounted for 39% of the apparent consumption in Spain. One protected geographical indication (PGI) is registered for canned mackerel in Andalucia. Two transmission analysis are detailed for canned fillets: one for canned mackerel made from frozen whole mackerel (retailed at 11,81 EUR/kg) and another one for canned mackerel in oil prepared with imported loins (retailed at 15,38 EUR/kg).
In Portugal, national catches were 26.839 tonnes in 2021; there are also important trade flows, both for imports (frozen and fresh mackerel) and exports (frozen and canned mackerel). The apparent consumption of canned products in Portugal is estimated around 3.000 tonnes LWE. Two price transmission analyses are detailed, one for canned whole mackerels in vegetable oil (retailed at 11,72 EUR/kg) and another for canned mackerel fillets in olive oil (retailed at 21,60 EUR/kg).
In the Netherlands, the national catches were 34.941 tonnes in 2021, with important landings of frozen mackerel from foreign vessels which are considered imports (119.683 tonnes LWE imported). There are significant exports (130.652 tonnes LWE), in particular frozen mackerel to Poland, Nigeria and Germany. The trade of frozen mackerel is generally made with “ice blocks” of fish (not gutted nor headed); these “ice blocks” are frozen on-board. The domestic market was estimated at 23.972 tonnes and mainly for smoked mackerel. Two price structure analyses are provided for smoked fillet of mackerel: one for mackerel smoked after filleting, retailed at 15,00 EUR/kg and one for mackerel filleted after smoking, the product is of higher quality and is retailed at 30,00 EUR/kg.
