Reduced catches and higher prices saw less Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) exported by European Union member states to Africa last year.
In terms of volume, mackerel has long been one of the most important commercial fish species exported by the E.U., and since the Russian trade embargo, Africa – particularly Nigeria – has provided the main overseas market for the fish. While there was a an upturn in sales to Ghana and Egypt, the Nigerian market imported 21 percent less mackerel last year, with its 61,048 metric tons (MT) valued at almost EUR 75.7 million (USD 86.1 million).
Together, these three African markets accounted for 56 percent of the E.U.’s total exports and 53 percent of the value.
Overall, the bloc exported 189,000 MT of mackerel valued at EUR 241 million (USD 274.2 million) to overseas markets in 2017, representing decreases of 5 percent and 1 percent compared with the previous year. More than 95 percent of these exports consisted of round frozen mackerel.
The Netherlands remained the E.U.’s top exporting member state with its 72,000 MT worth EUR 92 million (USD 104.7 million), although these totals were down 22 percent and 14 percent, respectively, compared with 2016.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, which is the E.U.’s largest mackerel quota holder, for the first five months of this year, the average first-sale prices of the fish increased by 42 percent year-on-year to around EUR 3.40 (USD 3.87) per kg.
According to the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA), this increasing price trend has also been observed in other supplying nations such as Norway.
“This must be seen in the light of declining quotas and good market conditions for the Atlantic mackerel in general,” it said.
With the domestic supply contracting, the EU increased its mackerel imports by 16 percent to 123,250 MT last year. These fish were valued at a total EUR 187.5 million (USD 213.4 million).
The Faroe Islands, Norway, Iceland and Greenland were the main suppliers to the bloc, with last year’s import price averaging EUR 1.66 (USD 1.89) per kg.
In the first quarter of 2018, the import price increased by two percent year-on-year to EUR 1.69 (USD 1.92) per kg.
According to EUMOFA, the global Atlantic mackerel catch amounted to more 1.16 million MT in 2017, with the E.U. providing 41 percent.
For 2018, preliminary catch and quota figures point to a mackerel harvest lower than last year but still above one million MT.
