Photo: Anfaco-Cecopesca

ANFACO-CECOPESCA Presents Production and Commercial Balance of the Sea-Industry Complex

SPAIN
Friday, March 21, 2025, 22:00 (GMT + 9)

• Slowing inflation, competitive export performance, and investment in competitiveness are among the elements that should help sustain production volume in the current context.
• The drive for innovation towards high-value products, such as preparations and preserves, shows the way to adapt to new consumption habits.
• Canned tuna consolidates its position as the leading export product, by volume, of the Spanish industry.

Today, Friday, March 21st, Roberto Alonso, Secretary General of ANFACO-CECOPESCA, held an informative coffee event where he assessed the 2024 results of the Spanish fish and aquaculture processing and canning industry, and analyzed the prospects for the current year.

The processing and canning industry maintains stable production and employment evolution

In this regard, according to the latest INE (2023) data, the production of the fishing products industry reached 970,402 tons, valued at €6,916 million, reflecting a positive trend compared to pre-pandemic data. Pending the closing of the 2024 figures, the produced volume is expected to remain stable.

In particular, the canned and semi-preserved fish and shellfish sector showed elasticity in its production during 2024, with a slight increase of 0.7% in volume compared to 2023. In terms of value, production reached 308,306 tons valued at €1,898 million, representing a 1% increase.

Regarding employment, the latest data from the fish, crustacean, and mollusk processing and preservation industry shows a trend towards consolidating the employment of recent years, exceeding 26,000 jobs in Spain for CNAE 1021 and 1022.

Consumption in Spanish households decreases, with variations by product type and a drop of over 25% compared to the pandemic

Regarding domestic consumption, according to data provided by MAPA for the moving year December 2023 to November 2024, fish category consumption decreased by 2.7% in volume, while value increased by 1.5%.

The analysis by product type shows that, except for canned fish and shellfish (+3.61% in volume) and smoked fish (+0.7% in volume), all other product groups show a trend of decreased consumption volume in Spanish households. This trend has been constant in the last 5 years. After fresh fish, preparations and preserves are the second option in households, showing that adapting to habits generates business and innovation opportunities.

Seafood exports experience a slowdown, with slight recovery in certain segments, such as preparations and preserves, and salted or smoked fish.

In 2024, exports of all seafood products decreased by 1.82% in volume and 0.4% in value compared to 2023, mainly due to the decrease in exported volume of frozen fish and fillets and other fish meat. Fresh fish (+1.86%), dried, salted and smoked fish (+5.96%), crustaceans (+3.54%), and mollusks (0.66%) show a positive trend. As a positive note, more than 135 countries make up the export list.

Exports of fish and shellfish preparations and preserves also show a positive performance, increasing by 3.72% in volume and 8% in value. Canned tuna consolidates its position as the leading export product, exceeding 100,000 tons during 2024.

Investment boost for modernization and continuous improvement.

The solid tradition, experience, and knowledge of the processing and canning industry are key elements that allow it to continue leading in innovation and modernization to respond to new habits based on nutrition, convenience, and flavor.

In this regard, the Secretary General of ANFACO-CECOPESCA highlighted the relevance of the aid provided in the Perte Mar-Industria, which represents fundamental support to update the processing industry against the challenges of green and digital transition. This highlights the importance of public-private collaboration, which is also key to adopting measures that reinforce industrial competitiveness.

The prospects for 2025 for the seafood processing and canning sector face uncertainties, with challenges in supply, tariffs, generational change, and demand.

The prospects for 2025 remain uncertain. The availability of raw materials continues to represent a key challenge due to fluctuations and the impact of climate change, while domestic demand continues to show weakness. In addition, the uncertainty derived from international trade policies, such as those of the United States, represents another challenge for the foreign activity of this industry, which faces increasing international competition, sometimes unfair with IUU practices. The shortage of skilled labor or the expansion of substitute products are other challenges that impose the current situation of the processing and canning sector.

In this context, the main challenges are to ensure the supply of fish and shellfish, improve competitiveness, and stimulate consumption in all markets.

Representation and defense developed by ANFACO-CECOPESCA in 2024.

ANFACO-CECOPESCA carried out more than 65 actions on various strategic and legislative fronts for the sea-food industry. Its global approach included promoting competitiveness, improving food safety and quality standards, fostering sustainable practices, promoting trade and internationalization, and strengthening labor relations. Promoting the relevance of the industry in the review of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Oceans Pact, or the European Food Vision will be objectives of 2025 for an active defense of the sector's interests.

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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