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Trout production rebounds by 13% in 2024 and marks two consecutive years of stability

Spain, 26 November 2025 | Spain reaches 16,693 tonnes of rainbow trout and forescast moderate growth to 16,920 tonnes in 2025

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In 2024, Spain’s production of rainbow trout reached 16,693 tonnes, representing a 13.1% increase compared with the previous year. This turnup breaks the recent trend of stagnation and points to a degree of cyclical recovery in the sector, although volumes remain far below the levels seen during its expansion phase at the beginning of the century, when more than 35,000 tonnes were produced.

Following that historical peak, trout production began a sustained decline that reduced the number of facilities and transformed the production model. Activity shifted from focusing on portion-sized trout to producing larger fish, which are more highly valued by the smoking industry and the HORECA channel. This structural change was compounded by growing competition from the other European countries, which operate with lower costs and exert price pressure across the market.

The production map 2024 confirms the territorial diversity of the sector, with no dominant region and activity spread widely across several autonomous communities. Castilla y León leads with 3,471 tonnes, followed by Galicia with 2,584 tonnes and Catalonia with 2,292 tonnes. La Rioja, Aragón, Andalusia, Navarre and Asturias also record notable volumes, while other regions such as Castilla-La Mancha and Cantabria maintain more modest levels. This geographic dispersion has historically been one of the sector’s strengths, helping cushion fluctuations linked to environmental factors and market dynamics.

Economically, rainbow trout generated a value of €54,6 million in 2024, with an average of €5.20/kg, 10% higher than the previous year. This increase in added value has helped sustain a profitability in a context were overall production volumes have shown little long-term growth.

Prospects for 2025 point towards the continuation of this moderate stability. The report forecasts production of 16,920 tonnes, just 1.4% more than in 2024. It is a modest yet meaningful increase that confirms the recent trend: the sector is not declining, but neither does it show signs of returning to the volumes seen in past decades. Instead, it reflects a consolidation process based on specialization and the enhancement of added value.

Overall, rainbow trout maintains its strategic role within Spanish aquaculture, particularly in freshwater systems. Although its long-term evolution shows a pronounced decline, the past two years indicate a stabilisation that could signal the beginning of a new phase of productive balance, supported by a shift towards more selective markets and by a diversified territorial structure that remains one of the sector’s greatest strengths.

Indicator 2023 2024 2025 Forecast
Total production (t) 14,752 16,693 16,920
Annual variation (%) — +13.1% +1.4%
Economic value (€M) 49.6 54.6 n/a
Average price (€/kg) 4.73 5.20 n/a
Comment Rainbow trout consolidates two consecutive years of moderate recovery and establishes a new stage of stability after decades of decline.