Mauritania remains one of West Africa's main sources of frozen small pelagics: horse mackerel, mackerel and sardinella. What happens there in October has a direct effect on the availability and price of containers delivered to Abidjan, Lomé, Cotonou or Douala before the festive season. Here is our reading of the market in mid-October, based on feedback from local operators.
1. Catches: an uneven recovery
Black horse mackerel. Landings are clearly picking up, estimated at 80 to 100 tonnes a day. Available sizes are mainly M and S; large sizes remain scarcer.
White horse mackerel. Volumes remain low, around 20 to 30 tonnes a day, mainly M and L. It is the tightest species at the moment.
Sardinella eba (Sardinella maderensis, flat sardinella). Catches are improving, mainly in MM (5/7) and S (7/9). However, a large share goes to fishmeal plants, which pay high prices for raw material. The volume actually available for frozen human consumption is therefore lower than landings suggest.
Mullet. Catches remain very low and raw material prices stay high.
2. More sea-frozen products
The octopus season is over. Vessels are back at sea and bringing in more sea-frozen products, especially mixed bycatch. Supply of these mixed lots is rising, which creates opportunities for buyers whose markets accept them.
3. Prices: where do we stand?
Indicative FOB price ranges observed on the Mauritanian market in mid-October, excluding freight and insurance. They are not an offer.
| Species | Size | FOB Mauritania (USD/t) |
|---|---|---|
| Black horse mackerel | L | 2,100-2,250 |
| Black horse mackerel | M | 1,900-2,100 |
| Black horse mackerel | S | 1,700-1,850 |
| White horse mackerel | L | 2,200-2,350 |
| White horse mackerel | M | 2,100-2,250 |
| Sardinella eba | M (4/6) | 1,000-1,150 |
| Sardinella eba | MM (5/7) | 950-1,050 |
- Black horse mackerel: firm prices, with a clear gap between sizes. Large fish costs significantly more than small.
- White horse mackerel: the most expensive species right now, a direct result of limited catches.
- Sardinella eba: well below horse mackerel prices, but supported by competition from fishmeal plants.
- Mullet: high prices, due to low volumes.
4. What this means for a West African importer
- Black horse mackerel in M and S: the best window at the moment. Volumes are there; this is the time to book for the festive season.
- White horse mackerel and large sizes: expect longer lead times and more competition between buyers. A late order may not be filled.
- Sardinella eba: do not rely on landing figures alone. Real availability for frozen product depends on fishmeal plant demand.
- Sea-frozen mixed lots: worth a look for some distribution channels, provided composition and labelling are checked lot by lot.
For a shipment ahead of the year-end holidays, the container should leave by around 10 November: buying decisions are being made now.
How ATC Group works
ATC Group is a B2B frozen fish trader, selling full 40' reefer containers CIF or CFR to West African ports. We follow the main production areas, including the Eastern Atlantic, to offer our clients the right product at the right time, with health certificate and origin documents.
Price and availability on request: +48 501 351 121 (phone and WhatsApp), contact@atcgroup.pl.
Volumes and trends quoted are market estimates as of mid-October 2026 and may change quickly.