Maine is hoping Europeans will once again find a place for its lobster on their Christmas tables to offset dismal sales, with the value of year-over-year exports to the European Union down about 42% through September.
Maine dealers had sold 1.2 million pounds of lobster valued at about $10.5 million to the EU in the first nine months of the year — down from about 1.9 million pounds worth $18 million sold by that time in 2024, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau trade data.
Dealers blame the lackluster sales on a combination of factors: a declining catch, the rising price of getting the lobster to market and international trade volatility, despite a deal struck over the summer to extend favorable tariff conditions for those exporting Maine lobster into Europe.