From increased supply of fresh whole seabream and decreased supply of seabass from Turkey to overall 9% increase in feed sales, the market has seen some noteworthy changes.

In the world of seabass and seabream, what has happened lately? What is the latest news in the industry? Our latest post is an extraction from our Monthly Seabass and Seabream Report and gives a little insight into the current trends in the world of seabass and seabream. 

Export volumes for fresh whole bream in Turkey has stabilized over the summer and import prices for fresh whole seabass from Turkey have increased.

Fresh whole bream export volumes from Turkey have stabilized over the summer. In the period January – end of May seabream volumes exported to EU increased, but over summer volumes exported were comparable to last year. The ‘additional volume’ is relative stable at around +3.750 MT (+16%) of bream biomass so far this year, compared to 2020. Volumes of fresh whole seabass exported to EU are still declining week after week compared to last year 2020. The supply is decreasing week by week and has now reached over -2.500 MT (-25%) of bass biomass. (See graph at the bottom of the post)

Import prices of fresh whole seabass from Turkey have exceeded €5.25/kg, an increase of €1 compared to same period last year and €1.5 compared to 2019. Import prices of seabream are around €4/kg and comparable to 2019 and 2020 prices. Wholesale prices are relative stable, however seabass prices in MercaMadrid (Spain’s main wholesale market) are below last year level, and volumes significantly higher (+25%). Due to lower harvest volumes in Spain, and low supply from Turkey, this is mainly Greek seabass coming in larger volumes to the Spanish wholesale markets. This larger supply, combined with high price level of seabass supresses the wholesale price of seabass. Seabream on the other hand is also coming to the whole sale markets in larger volumes, but due to lower price levels, prices paid this year are similar to last year.

A 9% increase in feed sales in the whole Mediterranean region and increased sales for the whole region as well.

Feed sales in the whole Mediterranean region YTD is 9% higher than last year. In the month August feed sales is also up 9% for the whole region. Trends per country differ. Greece had very high feed sales in the first part of the year, and although feed sales have come down feed sales in August was still 13% higher than last year (+16% YTD). In absolute term feed sales in August was an all-time high with 46.000 MT feed sold. Feed sales volumes in Turkey fluctuate a bit more month over month, but volumes YTD are still up 3% but still clearly below 2019 levels. Feed sales in Italy over summer are also on an all-time high with 15% higher volumes in August compared to last year, and 7% increase YTD. Feed sales in Spain is up 10% YTD but still 10% below pre-Gloria levels.

This is an extraction from our Monthly Seabass and Seabream report. Want to be up to date on news such as this? Subscribe to our monthly report today!

Image: Shutterstock by zarzamora