Quick Take — Fish, sales run despite prices: changing habits and salmon is king

The price increases of recent years have not spared fish products. These, however, register a 6.3% increase in purchases compared to 2024. Driving the sector is the passion for sushi and ‘ready to eat’.

Fish and shellfish continue to increase in price on Italian tables. But despite this, the market continues to grow: especially in the ready-to-eat segment. Looking at the ISTAT tables on consumer prices, increases have been visible in recent months: in April, the macro-category ‘fish and fish products’ marked a 3% increase on 2025, the same increase for salmon, while shrimps recorded 3.7%. More impressive is the long-term figure: 32.8% for fish and fish products between 2015 and 2025, while fresh or frozen seafood recorded increases of 40%. In ten years, fish has thus become a considerably more expensive product for Italian households, caught between inflation, rising energy costs, more expensive transport and tensions on international supply chains..

Obviously, there is no analysis to differentiate between value and volume growth, but this is the trend. Below: the sushi corner and fish counter of a Pewex supermarket in Rome.

Compiled on 28 May, updated on 29 May 2026

JBS: skyrocketing meat prices in the US amid use of anti-obesity drugs and increasing protein consumption

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