As highlighted in our previous report, shrimp imports into the EU-UK region grew by 8.5% year-over-year in Q1, reaching approximately 159,000 metric tonnes. This volume comprises both warm-water and cold-water shrimp, predominantly sourced from Asia and Latin America. The overall increase was driven by higher import levels in more than half of the 26 European countries that imported shrimp. Of these, 14 countries recorded double-digit growth in shrimp imports, while an additional three countries posted single-digit increases.
The top seven countries accounted for 86% of total imports during the first quarter. Spain led with a 24% share, followed by France at 14%. The UK, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark each contributed around 9–10% to the total volume.
However, there were notable disparities among key markets. Spain, while still the largest importer, registered only a modest 2.5% increase year-on-year, resulting in a 2-percentage-point decline in its share of total European imports (from 26% to 24%). In contrast, France saw a 27.7% surge in Q1 year-on-year, gaining 2 percentage points in its share (from 12% to 14%). The UK and Belgium also reported strong growth of 12.0% and 34.2%, respectively.
On the other hand, the Netherlands and Denmark experienced significant declines in shrimp imports, down by 9.7% and 15.0% respectively.
Other mid-sized importers—Germany, Portugal, and Greece—collectively account for 10% of total volume. Each registered robust year-on-year increases ranging from 21% to 36%.
The overall growth in shrimp consumption across Europe is primarily attributed to increased demand for warm-water shrimp. A review of Q1 data over the past decade indicates a rather consistent upward trend in warm-water shrimp imports since 2017, whereas cold-water shrimp volumes have declined over the past four years. This shift reflects global production dynamics, particularly Ecuador’s strategic push to expand its presence in key markets such as China, the U.S., and Europe. Market sources also note that the wild cold-water species (Pandalus borealis) faces stiff competition from farmed vannamei shrimp, especially in the UK market, further contributing to the segment’s mild decline.
Written by Fabienne O'Donoghue
