Spain: Christmas boosts fish sales and only the classics account for price increases

Prices of traditional Christmas fish and seafood in Spain have increased ahead of the holiday, with variations by region and species. Prawns, salmon, and high-end preserves are experiencing the highest price hikes. The fishing industry remains a significant revenue generator, despite challenges such as uncertainty in product availability and competition from restaurants. Despite inflation and a slight decrease in fish consumption, the canned and smoked fish manufacturers' association, Anfaco, anticipates a boost in sales. Christmas baskets and gifts often include high-value preserves, and December and Lent are the highest consumption periods for salted and smoked fish.

The most typical fish and seafood for Christmas have risen in price in recent days, although unevenly depending on the species and the area of Spain. Fishing sales for Christmas are increasing notably and will rise even more this weekend, but this year the price increase is relative, depending on the area of the country, and is concentrated on the "classics", such as some fresh seafood typical of the tables at this time. Prawns, salmon or high-end preserves are the products that are selling the most these days, thanks to the roots of these holidays, according to sources from fishmongers, wholesalers and the canning industry who have told Efeagro. Christmas remains one of the strong moments for the turnover of fishing companies, but traditional fishmongers stress that they do not obtain as much margin and that this increase varies according to the region. According to the Spanish federation that groups fishmongers (Fedepesca), uneven increases in sales and prices have been noted ...