Mediterranean gilthead seabream trade shifts as Greece gains ground in Portugal and Italy but retreats in Spain

Trade in fresh gilthead seabream across southern Europe showed significant shifts in the first half of 2026. Italy, Spain, and Portugal imported less fish, but the changes in sourcing were markedly different, according to a misPeces analysis of Eurostat COMEX data for fresh or chilled seabream.

The contrast is particularly clear for Greece. Its shipments to Portugal almost doubled, rising 94.2% to 1,900 tonnes, and increased by 6.4% in Italy. In Spain, however, Greek supply fell 36.9%, representing a loss of almost 1,940 tonnes. Greece nevertheless remained the dominant foreign supplier to Spain and strengthened its position as Italy’s leading source.

Turkey moved in the opposite direction across all three markets. Shipments to Italy fell 14.6% to 6,387 tonnes, while supply to Portugal collapsed from 902 tonnes to just 36 tonnes. Turkish volumes were also virtually absent from Spanish imports in the first half of 2026, compared with around 326 tonnes a year earlier. 

Italy also recorded another notable development: imports from Tunisia surged from 187 to 1,409 tonnes, giving the country around 6.8% of the Italian market.

Lower overall volumes did not translate into equivalent falls in value. Apparent imports unit values increased from €6.51 to €6.86/kg in Italy, from €5.94 to €6.36/kg in Spain and, most notably, from €7.28 to €8.86/kg in Portugal. These are trade unit value rather than market prices and may reflect differences in size, presentation and commercial conditions.

Taken together, the data point to a redistribution of Mediterraean gilthead seabream trade rather than a uniform market contraction. Greece is gaining strongly in Portugal and moderately in Italy while losing substantial volume in Spain, as Turkey retreats across all three markets.