Seafood suppliers, buyers and products in Portugal

Few countries eat as much fish as Portugal. According to EUMOFA, apparent consumption reached 53.61 kg per person in 2023, and cod is by far the most consumed species. To supply this market, the country combines a large fleet, active fishing ports, a long-established canning industry and substantial imports.

companies listed in the SeaMatch public directory from public sources
94

A large fleet and a mostly fresh catch

In 2023, Portugal ranked 9th in the EU for fishery production (164,000 tonnes) and 13th for aquaculture (18,000 tonnes). The fleet had 6,817 vessels in 2024. In 2023, fishing employed 7,227 people in full-time equivalents. There are 70 registered fishing ports.

Portuguese landings are mostly fresh: in 2023, 88% were fresh whole or gutted products and 11% frozen.

Key ports and regions

In 2025, first sales at auction totalled 113,435 tonnes and €305 million. The three main places of sale were:

  • Matosinhos: 23,322 tonnes and €41 million (sardine, anchovy, clam),
  • Peniche: 14,435 tonnes and €37 million (Atlantic horse mackerel, sardine, swordfish),
  • Sesimbra: 18,306 tonnes and €32 million (sardine, black scabbardfish, mackerel).

Sardine appears in all three ports and is one of the signature species of the Portuguese coast.

Aquaculture: clams and turbot

Almost all Portuguese aquaculture (99%) takes place in marine or brackish waters, using varied methods: bottom culture, tanks, ponds, suspended culture and cages. By value, the main species are clams and turbot.

Canning: tuna and sardines

The processing industry employed 9,580 people in 2023 and had a turnover of about €2 billion in 2024, with 162 companies. The main products sold are canned tuna and canned sardines. Processing accounts for 9% of the value added of the entire Portuguese food industry.

What buyers look for

  • Fresh and frozen fish: sardine, horse mackerel, mackerel, anchovy, swordfish, black scabbardfish, hake, octopus, turbot, seabream, seabass.
  • Bacalhau: dried salted cod, desalted and frozen cod.
  • Shellfish: clams, cockles, mussels, oysters, shrimp, prawns, lobster, brown crab.
  • Canned seafood: tuna, sardines, mackerel and octopus.

Portugal in international trade

By value, cod is by far the leading import, ahead of salmon, octopus, hake and shrimp. Exports are led by cod, tuna, sardine, octopus and mackerel. Spain is both the main origin and the main destination (EUMOFA, 2024).

How to find seafood suppliers, buyers and products in Portugal

SeaMatch presents 94 Portuguese seafood companies listed in the SeaMatch public directory from public sources. SeaMatch serves suppliers, buyers, importers and distributors looking for seafood products. The sector includes: fish wholesalers, frozen fish distributors, cod importers, canneries, fish farmers and exporters. The public directory shows each company's name and city, and with a free account, you can filter companies by region. With a free account, you can contact the companies registered on SeaMatch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Portugal's main fishing port?

By first-sale value, Matosinhos: €41 million and 23,322 tonnes in 2025, according to EUMOFA.

How much fish do the Portuguese eat?

About 53.6 kg per person in 2023, with cod as the most consumed species (EUMOFA).

What does Portugal mainly export, and where does it go?

By value, mainly cod, tuna, sardine, octopus and mackerel. Spain is the main destination (EUMOFA, 2024).

What does Portugal mainly import, and from where?

Cod above all, followed notably by salmon, octopus, hake and shrimp. Spain is the main origin (EUMOFA, 2024).

Sources: EUMOFA