The gilthead sea bream market at Mecamadrid has entered 2025 in new phase, marked by tighter supply and a broad rise in prices. Between January and July, all size categories recorded significant price increases, while volumes declined-pointing to reduced availability and greater pressure on consumer demand.
Portion-size seabream, the format most commonly found in Spanish households, saw its typical price climb form €6/kg in 2024 to €6.90/kg this year-a rise of 15%. At the same time, volumes dropped by 10.5% to 2,370 tonnes, signaling lower inflows to the market. Shipments from Turkey fell by 11.3% and from Greece by 24.4%, accounting for much of the shortfall.
In the medium category (400-600 g), the standard price rose from €6.30 to €6.80-6.90/kg, an 8% increase, while volumes contracted by 12.3% to 2,490 tonnes, down from 2,850 in 2024. The Greek decline was particularly sharp, with 26% less product, while Turkish supply was down by 13.1%.
The most striking shift has been in large seabream, weighing over 600g, which has consolidated its position as a higher-value product in the premium and restaurant trade. Its common price surged by 25%, from €6.70 to between €8.70 and €9.20/kg. Remarkably, this rise has come despite volumes holding steady at around 1,060 tonnes. Turkish supply was virtually unchanged (down just 1.1%), while Greece reduced exports by 15.6%.
Overall, the seabream market is showing clear signs of a cycle change. Lower shipments-particularly from Greece-combined with firm demand in higher-value segments, have driven prices across the board. In 2025, seabream is not only more expensive in the most common household formats, but larger fish have also gained clear added value, becoming a hallmark of premium consumption at Mercamadrid.
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