State of Sardines - October 2026
The tier map
| Tier | Who lives there | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Season, Crown Prince | Moroccan pack, case pricing |
| Mid | King Oscar, Wild Planet, Bela, Matiz | Oil quality, fish size, grocery distribution |
| Premium | Fishwife, Nuri, Ramon Pena, Ortiz | Hand-packing, conservas craft, branding |
What to watch
Morocco historically lands roughly 60% of the global sardine catch; landings fell sharply in 2024 and a frozen-sardine export ban to the EU begins February 2026. Budget tiers feel supply shocks first, so if your favourite value tin gets pricier, this is why. We group tins by tier so you can compare like with like while shelf prices move.