Household spending fell 5% in July 2026, while purchase volumes remained close to their July 2024 level. EUMOFA figures reveal an uneven picture across European markets.

Fresh seafood consumption in Italy held broadly steady in volume terms in July 2026, while household spending fell more sharply. Italian households purchased 17,288 tonnes of fresh fishery and aquaculture products for €220.24 million, down 1% in volume and 5% in value from July 2025, according to the rounded changes reported by EUMOFA.

The figures come from EUMOFA’s Monthly Highlights No. 9/2026, using Europanel data. They describe household purchases of fresh products, rather than the whole Italian seafood market.

Fresh seafood consumption in Italy: the July figures

Source: EUMOFA, Monthly Highlights No. 9/2026, Table 41, page 32; Europanel. Average values calculated by dividing expenditure by purchased weight. Each row covers July only.

The annual comparison shows a reduction of 216 tonnes and €11.65 million. Against July 2024, however, purchases were 44 tonnes higher, an increase of approximately 0.3%, while expenditure was €9.17 million higher, up 4.3%.

The choice of comparison year therefore matters. July 2026 was weaker than July 2025, but purchased quantities remained almost unchanged over the two-year interval.

What the average value per kilogram tells us

Dividing expenditure by volume produces an average value of €12.74/kg in July 2026, compared with €13.25/kg in July 2025 and €12.24/kg in July 2024. Calculated from the underlying figures, the latest value was approximately 3.8% lower than a year earlier.

This measure combines purchases across different products. Changes can reflect both individual prices and the mix of species, sizes and product formats bought. The aggregate figures cannot establish how much each factor contributed, so they do not demonstrate a general fall in seafood prices.

European household seafood purchases follow different paths

The same EUMOFA table shows considerable variation across the countries monitored. In the Netherlands, July purchases rose 20% in volume and 24% in value compared with July 2025. Portugal recorded increases of 2% and 13%, respectively, while Germany registered declines of 19% in both measures.

Spain offers another example of value and volume moving differently: household purchases fell 2% in quantity, while expenditure increased 1%. These national results show why Italy’s figures should be assessed in their own market context.

What seafood businesses can take from the data

For suppliers and retailers, the figures provide a benchmark for reviewing their own sales. A useful comparison pairs kilograms sold with revenue and examines whether the product mix has changed. Profitability requires a separate assessment of purchase costs, handling, yield and losses.

The three July observations also leave an open question: whether the latest decline continued in subsequent months. A longer monthly series and product-level comparisons would help distinguish a temporary change from a more persistent pattern.

Questions about Italy’s fresh seafood market

How much fresh seafood did Italian households buy in July 2026?

Household purchases totalled 17,288 tonnes, worth €220.24 million, according to EUMOFA’s Europanel-based figures.

Did fresh seafood prices fall in Italy?

The calculated average value per kilogram fell by approximately 3.8% from July 2025. This is not a consumer price index: changes in the products purchased can also affect the result.

Do these figures cover all Italian seafood consumption?

No. They cover household purchases of fresh fishery and aquaculture products. They do not measure restaurant consumption or purchases of frozen and canned seafood.

Related coverage: Pesceinrete’s Italian-language analysis.