The European aquaculture industry produced 1.0 million tons of aquatic organisms in 2024, representing a total market value of €4.6 billion. This performance marks a marginal decline in both production volume and economic value compared to the previous year, highlighting a period of stabilization within the sector.

European aquaculture production contracted by 3.7% in volume and 3.6% in value during 2024, according to the latest data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Despite this slight downturn, the sector remains highly concentrated, with five countries—Spain, France, Greece, Italy, and Poland—accounting for over two-thirds of the total output. Spain maintains its position as the leading producer with 246,137 tons, representing nearly a quarter of the EU’s total production.

From a feed demand perspective, the species distribution remains a critical indicator. While mussels account for approximately one-third of total live weight (32.8%), the economic driver of the industry is focused on finfish. Trout emerged as the most valuable species, representing 17.9% of the total market value, followed closely by seabass and gilthead seabream.

These high-value carnivorous species represent the primary segment for compound feed innovation and consumption. The reported data suggests that while bulk volume is tied to molluscs, the industrial focus for nutrition and feed formulation continues to shift toward maximizing the efficiency of high-value species in the Mediterranean and Atlantic hubs.