- The volume of production of eel was 277.103 tonnes at world level in 2018 (FAO). - China was the largest producer in the world with 84% of the volume, producing Japanese eel in particular. - EU-28 Member States produced 7.663 tonnes in 2018 (-19% compared with 2009) and accounted for 3% of world production. The EU only produces European eel, and is the main producer of this species in the world, with 94% of European eel production in 2018. - EU production mainly relies on aquaculture (68% of the volume) and to a lesser extent on fisheries (32%). - The main producers of eel at EU level are the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Denmark, with at least 600 tonnes of production each in 2018. - In the intra-EU market, the Netherlands, France and Germany are the main exporters. France mainly exports live eel, while the Netherlands and Germany also export processed products (smoked and preserved). The Netherlands and Germany are also the main importers (mostly live, frozen and smoked eels). - Eel is subject to recovery measures due to the state of the stock. At EU level, this is defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 which sets out that EU countries should elaborate Eel Management Plans in order to allow 40 % of adult eels to escape from inland waters to the sea, where they can spawn. There are also temporary fishing closures set at EU level. According to the scientific advice, the status of the European eel remains critical. - This study focuses on smoked eel in three Member States: the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Eel is banned from several large-scale retail chains due to the state of the stock and is mainly small-scale production, thus the survey focuses on sales in fishmongers and direct sales: - Smoked eel fillets retailed in fishmonger shops in the Netherlands; - Whole smoked eel retailed in fishmonger shops in Germany; - Smoked eel fillets retailed in direct sales in Denmark. - The main outcomes of the price structure analysis of the three products surveyed are listed below: - The purchase price of live eel for smokers ranges from 8,00 and 10,85 EUR/kg; - Important costs are related to the filleting yields (41% to 46%) and labour; - The retail price (excl. VAT) ranges from 43,00 EUR/kg in direct sales in Denmark up to 55,20 EUR/kg in the Netherlands; - The retail price (incl. VAT) ranges from 48,69 EUR/kg in Germany to 60,17 EUR/kg in the Netherlands.
