Conxemar 2026 seeks expanded EU tariff quota for Argentine shrimp

The 27th edition of Conxemar, a major frozen seafood trade fair, has opened in Vigo, Spain, featuring 836 exhibitors. The event has seen a nearly 3% increase in participation compared to the previous year, though organizers noted that demand for exhibition space is currently exceeding the capacity of the Vigo Fair Institute.

A central topic of the fair is the push to expand the tariff-rate quota for Argentine shrimp in the European Union. Eloy Alvariza, president of Conxemar, reported that the current quota is typically exhausted within the first quarter of the year. The association is negotiating with the European Commissioner for Fisheries to potentially double the quota, which would extend the period of reduced tariffs and provide greater predictability for international trade and supply chains.

Local authorities, including the Mayor of Vigo and the President of the Xunta de Galicia, have expressed support for addressing the fair's space limitations and emphasized the importance of the fishing sector for European food security.