European Lobster Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Norway paid the most for European lobster in Q3 2026: USD 47.00/KG, up 4.4% from USD 45.00/KG in Q2. Prices there reflect small catches and a premium for live shipments. Worldwide, the average rose 4.0% to USD 35.50/KG from USD 34.15/KG, mostly because small catches met strong summer and holiday demand. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 34.04-38.38/KG range, with catch size, seasonal quotas and restaurant demand doing most of the work.

The European lobster is a large clawed crustacean caught in pots along the Atlantic coast of Europe, from Norway and Scotland to Portugal. It is sold live, boiled or frozen to restaurants and shellfish traders, and it commands higher prices than the American lobster. This report tracks the ex-vessel and wholesale price of live European lobster, quoted per kilogram, in the main catching and consuming markets. Prices follow catch size, seasonal quotas, export demand and restaurant buying.

Catches are small and vary by year, with the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway and France landing most of the volume. Most of the harvest is sold live, and the largest share of European supply goes to premium restaurants in France, Spain and Italy. Export unit values in recent years were near 44 dollars a kilogram from Norway, roughly 29 from France and about 24 from the United Kingdom, which shows how far prices differ by origin and by the share of large animals in a catch.

European Lobster Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should rise through the rest of 2026. Small catches and holiday demand should lift prices. Year on year, the global average has moved from USD 32.52/KG to USD 35.50/KG, an increase of 9.2%.

For Q4, the risks are weighted toward higher prices. What could push prices higher? Smaller catches, stronger holiday demand or tighter quotas would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Larger catches, weak restaurant demand or cheaper imports would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

European Lobster Prices Q3 2026:

• Norway: USD 47.00/KG
• France: USD 32.40/KG
• United Kingdom: USD 26.40/KG
• Spain: USD 36.20/KG

European Lobster Prices in Norway

In Q3 2026, the average price in Norway firmed 4.4% to USD 47.00/KG, compared with USD 45.00/KG in Q2. Prices rose as small catches and strong summer demand lifted live prices. Compared with Q3 2025, when Norway averaged USD 43.00/KG, the current price is 9.3% higher. The gap to the four-market average of USD 35.50/KG was 32.4% above for Norway.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q3 2026 in Norway?

Norway rose. Small catches and strong summer demand lifted live prices. Buyers kept orders close to immediate needs. At USD 47.00/KG, Norway is 11.9% higher than in Q4 2025, when the average was USD 42.00/KG, and the global average is 12.1% higher over the same period.

European Lobster Prices in France

France's average gained 3.8% in Q3 2026, to USD 32.40/KG from USD 31.20/KG in Q2. Prices rose as restaurants and fishmongers bought more for the holiday season. The current level is 9.8% above the Q3 2025 average of USD 29.50/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 35.50/KG, France stood 8.7% below in the quarter.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q3 2026 in France?

France rose. Restaurants and fishmongers bought more for the holiday season. Traders checked stock levels before committing to larger volumes. Since Q4 2025 the price in France has gone up 13.7%, from USD 28.50/KG to USD 32.40/KG, while the global average has gone up 12.1%.

European Lobster Prices in United Kingdom

Prices in the United Kingdom rose 3.9% in Q3 2026 to USD 26.40/KG, against USD 25.40/KG in Q2. Prices rose as export buyers competed for live lobster. Compared with Q3 2025, when the United Kingdom averaged USD 24.20/KG, the current price is 9.1% higher. The gap to the four-market average of USD 35.50/KG was 25.6% below for the United Kingdom.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q3 2026 in United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom rose. Export buyers competed for live lobster. Offers were reviewed weekly as contract talks went on. Compared with the Q4 2025 average of USD 23.60/KG, the price in the United Kingdom has changed by +11.9%, against +12.1% for the global average.

European Lobster Prices in Spain

Spain recorded a 3.4% gain in Q3 2026, with the average rising to USD 36.20/KG from USD 35.00/KG in Q2. Prices rose as premium restaurants paid more for live lobster. The current level is 8.4% above the Q3 2025 average of USD 33.40/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 35.50/KG, Spain stood 2.0% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q3 2026 in Spain?

Spain rose. Premium restaurants paid more for live lobster. Most deals were settled on short notice. At USD 36.20/KG, Spain is 11.0% higher than in Q4 2025, when the average was USD 32.60/KG, and the global average is 12.1% higher over the same period.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

European Lobster Prices Q2 2026:

• Norway: USD 45.00/KG
• France: USD 31.20/KG
• United Kingdom: USD 25.40/KG
• Spain: USD 35.00/KG

European Lobster Prices in Norway

Prices in Norway climbed 3.4% in Q2 2026 to USD 45.00/KG, against USD 43.50/KG in Q1. Prices rose as catches stayed small. Compared with Q2 2025, when Norway averaged USD 45.50/KG, the current price is 1.1% lower. The gap to the four-market average of USD 34.15/KG was 31.8% above for Norway.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q2 2026 in Norway?

Norway rose. Catches stayed small. Order sizes stayed modest through the quarter. Q1 had brought a 3.6% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 1.1% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 45.50/KG. Q3 then extended the move, taking the price to USD 47.00/KG.

European Lobster Prices in France

France recorded a 4.7% gain in Q2 2026, with the average rising to USD 31.20/KG from USD 29.80/KG in Q1. Prices rose as restaurant demand improved. The current level is 1.0% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 31.50/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 34.15/KG, France stood 8.6% below in the quarter.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q2 2026 in France?

France rose. Restaurant demand improved. Contract talks were mostly settled before the quarter began. After +4.6% in Q1, the quarter closed 1.0% below its year-earlier level of USD 31.50/KG, and in Q3 the move was extended, to USD 32.40/KG.

European Lobster Prices in United Kingdom

In Q2 2026, the average price in the United Kingdom gained 4.1% to USD 25.40/KG, compared with USD 24.40/KG in Q1. Prices rose as catches stayed small. Compared with Q2 2025, when the United Kingdom averaged USD 25.80/KG, the current price is 1.6% lower. The gap to the four-market average of USD 34.15/KG was 25.6% below for the United Kingdom.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q2 2026 in United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom rose. Catches stayed small. Sellers adjusted offers in small steps. Year on year the price is 1.6% lower than the USD 25.80/KG of Q2 2025, following +3.4% in Q1. Q3 extended the move, with the price at USD 26.40/KG.

European Lobster Prices in Spain

Spain's average rose 3.6% in Q2 2026, to USD 35.00/KG from USD 33.80/KG in Q1. Prices rose as restaurant demand improved. The current level is 0.6% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 35.20/KG. Against the four-market average of USD 34.15/KG, Spain stood 2.5% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of European Lobster change in Q2 2026 in Spain?

Spain rose. Restaurant demand improved. Buyers worked through existing stock before placing new orders. Q1 had brought a 3.7% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 0.6% below the Q2 2025 average of USD 35.20/KG. Q3 then extended the move, taking the price to USD 36.20/KG.

Quarterly European Lobster Price Trends

European lobster prices fell through 2025 and rose in 2026. The global average moved from USD 33.20/KG in Q1 2025 to 34.50 in Q2, 32.52 in Q3, 31.68 in Q4, then 32.88 in Q1 2026, 34.15 in Q2 and 35.50 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 6.9% across the window. Catch size, seasonal quotas and restaurant demand set the direction.

What was European Lobster Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of modest declines for European lobster. Starting near USD 33.20/KG in Q1, the global average finished the year at 31.68 in Q4, a drop of about 4.6%. Catch size, seasonal quotas and restaurant demand set the direction.

European Lobster Prices in Norway in 2025

In Norway, prices moved from about USD 44.00/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 42.00/KG by Q4, down roughly 4.5%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as catch sizes and restaurant demand changed with the seasons. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in Norway is 11.9% higher at USD 47.00/KG.

European Lobster Prices in France in 2025

In France, prices moved from about USD 30.00/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 28.50/KG by Q4, down roughly 5.0%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as supply and holiday demand changed through the year. Since the 2025 close of USD 28.50/KG, the price in France has moved up 13.7%, reaching USD 32.40/KG in Q3 2026.

European Lobster Prices in United Kingdom in 2025

In the United Kingdom, prices moved from about USD 24.80/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 23.60/KG by Q4, down roughly 4.8%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as catch sizes and restaurant demand changed with the seasons. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in the United Kingdom is 11.9% higher at USD 26.40/KG.

European Lobster Prices in Spain in 2025

In Spain, prices moved from about USD 34.00/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 32.60/KG by Q4, down roughly 4.1%. Prices rose in Q2, then fell in Q3 and Q4 as supply and holiday demand changed through the year. Since the 2025 close of USD 32.60/KG, the price in Spain has moved up 11.0%, reaching USD 36.20/KG in Q3 2026.

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We follow European lobster prices in the main producing and consuming countries, and trace each move back to catch size, seasonal quotas, restaurant demand and demand. Our forecasts draw on catch size, quotas and restaurant demand across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.