The consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in the EU increased by 409,000 metric tons (MT) to a level of around 13 million MT in 2014, boosting the bloc’s per capita consumption to 25.5 kg, which is 3.5 percent higher than in 2013, according to the latest edition of an annual study compiled by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA).
“The EU Fish Market – Edition 2016” also finds that tuna, cod and farmed salmon were the most consumed species in the EU last year, with per capita consumption levels of 2.6 kg, 2.4 kg and 2.1 kg respectively, and that cod registered the most year-on-year growth (9 percent).
Indeed, after a drop in cod consumption in 2005-2008, with 2008 registering the lowest amount at 1.69 kg per capita, the consumption of cod has increased 18 percent in the last 10 years. Furthermore, the consumption of the two other main groundfish species – Alaska pollock and hake – hasn’t followed the same trend: hake consumption has slightly decreased and Alaska pollock has remained static.
Total household purchases of cod in the EU amounted to EUR 1.4 billion (USD 1.6 billion) in 2015. Within the bloc, the United Kingdom ranked first with EUR 608 million (USD 678.2 million), followed by France with EUR 322 million (USD 359.2 million), Spain with EUR 218 million (USD 243.2 million) and Italy with EUR 137 million (USD 152.8 million).
From 2014, Spain and France decreased their consumption of cod in value, by 5 percent and 3 percent respectively, and volume, both by 8 percent, while the United Kingdom increased its by consumption by 12 percent in value and 22 percent in volume.
To satisfy the EU’s huge demand for cod, some 486,000 MT of the species worth EUR 2.2 billion (USD 2.5 billion) was imported by member states last year, with Norway and Iceland the main countries of origin.
Norway’s cod exports to the EU totaled 174,000 MT worth EUR 789 million (USD 880.1 million), with a 30 percent price increase – from EUR 3.50 (USD 3.90) to EUR 4.54 (USD 5.06) per kg. Iceland’s exports, meanwhile reached 90,000 MT and EUR 558 million (USD 622.6 million), with a 15 percent price increase.
Both countries reported values increases of 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
The Netherlands was the EU's No. 1 importer of cod deriving from outside the bloc – mostly from Iceland at EUR 5.20 (USD 5.80) per kg, and from Russia at EUR 3.75 (USD 4.18) per kg. However, most of these products were then re-exported to other member states.
