Mobile Menu

Seafood Processing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ C10.20DE

Revenue

€2.6bn

2024

€2.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

6,325

Businesses

50

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Seafood Processing in Germany industry analysis

The sales trend in fish processing is primarily influenced by the situation in the downstream sectors and current consumer trends. In 2020, businesses in the out-of-home market had significantly less demand for fish products as they had to temporarily close or restrict operations due to the pandemic. As a result, more people cooked at home and both turnover and sales of fish and fish products in food retail increased. Industry sales declined between 2021 and 2023. While the normalisation of consumer behaviour was responsible for the decline in sales in 2021, price increases have had a negative impact on demand for fish products, which are already rather expensive, since 2022. In the period from 2019 to 2024, industry sales fell by an average of 0.9% per year. Turnover is expected to reach €2.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 0.5% compared to the previous year. The positive sales trend expected for the current year is due to lower inflation and the resulting greater willingness to spend on expensive foods such as fish.In recent years, factors such as increasing health awareness, rising net household incomes, rising sales in supermarkets and discount stores and the growth of the catering industry have had a largely positive impact on fish processing sales. Consumers' willingness to spend has increased due to rising net household income in combination with growing health awareness. Since 2022, however, inflation has had a dampening effect on consumers' willingness to spend. Health-conscious consumers regularly consume fish and are also willing to spend more money on it, as fish is very healthy due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content. At the same time, the industry is benefiting from the fact that more and more consumers are turning to frozen products and other fish products that can be prepared quickly due to time constraints.Fish consumption is expected to remain stable over the next five years, which is why IBISWorld anticipates average annual sales growth of 0.7% to €2.7 billion for the period from 2024 to 2029. Both the number of companies and the number of businesses and employees are expected to change only slightly in the coming years.

Trends and Insights

  • Supermarkets and discounters are using their increasing market power to exert pressure on producers' prices. This reduces fish processors' profit margins as they are unable to pass on the increased purchasing costs to retailers.
  • Consumers are increasingly willing to pay for sustainable fish products. Smoked fish from sustainable fishing or farming is particularly popular, as it contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered healthy.
  • The northern region offers industry players the greatest locational advantages. The proximity to the North Sea ports, which serve as important transshipment centres for fresh fish and seafood, is decisive for this.
  • German fish processors are in fierce competition with each other. Features such as sales prices and product quality are just as decisive for success in the internal competition as good marketing.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €2.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The market power of supermarkets affects the profits of industry players

  • When raw material prices rise, fish processors can only maintain their profit margins if they pass on the price increases to downstream sectors such as the food retail trade. The prices for the raw material fish are very volatile, which means that the purchasing costs of industry players are also subject to major fluctuations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Seafood Processing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Despite Brexit, the United Kingdom remains an important trading partner

  • The threat of a collapse in exports of fish products and a shortage of raw materials has been averted for the time being, as a trade agreement was concluded between the European Union and the United Kingdom at the end of 2020.

Biggest companies in the Seafood Processing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Deutsche See GmbH
380.9
Frozen Fish International GmbH
372.0
AliSa International GmbH
288.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Seafood Processing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Frozen fish, Prepared and preserved fish and Smoked fish. Frozen fish is the largest segment of the Seafood Processing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Demand for convenience products is boosting sales of frozen fish

  • This product group includes fish fillets, breaded fish fillets and other processed frozen fish.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes the preservation of fish, crustaceans and molluscs by freezing, deep-freezing, drying, cooking, smoking, salting and other types of preservation. The industry also produces cooked fish, fish fillets, fish roe, caviar, fishmeal and other products made from fish, crustaceans and molluscs. The processing of seaweed is also part of the industry's activities.

What's included in this industry?

Frozen fishPrepared and preserved fishSmoked fishOther fish products

Companies

Deutsche See GmbHFrozen Fish International GmbHAliSa International GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

AQUACULTUREAQUACULTURE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (ASC)ALLERGENMARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MSC)OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 10.20 - Seafood Processing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Supermarkets and discounters are using their increasing market power to exert pressure on producers' prices. This reduces fish processors' profit margins as they are unable t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Consumers are increasingly willing to pay for sustainable fish products. Smoked fish from sustainable fishing or farming is particularly popular, as it contains a lot of omeg...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The northern region offers industry players the greatest locational advantages. The proximity to the North Sea ports, which serve as important transshipment centres for fresh...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

German fish processors are in fierce competition with each other. Features such as sales prices and product quality are just as decisive for success in the internal competiti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The company's in-house supply of fish and seafood increases the quality and efficiency of Deutsche See's products and production processes. In volatile years, the company can...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Deutsche See GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Frozen Fish International GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of AliSa International GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Deutsche See GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Frozen Fish International GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for AliSa International GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Federal Market Association of the Fishing Industry and the Fish Information Centre are committed to the industry. They carry out public relations work and represent the i...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin of fish processing companies is falling noticeably. Industry players are finding it increasingly difficult to pass on the increased purchasing costs for fis...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Seafood Processing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Seafood Processing industry in Germany is €2.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Seafood Processing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 50 businesses in the Seafood Processing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Seafood Processing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Seafood Processing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Seafood Processing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Seafood Processing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Seafood Processing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Seafood Processing market in Germany are Deutsche See GmbH, Frozen Fish International GmbH and AliSa International GmbH

What does the Seafood Processing in Germany include?

Frozen fish and Prepared and preserved fish are part of the Seafood Processing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Seafood Processing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Deutsche See GmbH.

How competitive is the Seafood Processing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Seafood Processing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Meat Product Processing in Germany

Complementors

  • Other Food Wholesaling in Germany
  • Supermarkets in Germany
  • Seafood Retailers in Germany

International industries

  • Seafood Preparation in the US
  • Seafood Preparation in Canada
  • Seafood Processing in Australia
  • Seafood Processing in the UK
  • Frozen Seafood Processing in China

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.