ANALYSIS: Surge of Canadian Halibut Pushing Prices Down to Five Year Low

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton and Liz Cuozzo – May 16, 2018

Fresh Atlantic halibut is trading at a five year low, and it is affecting prices for Pacific halibut as well, which are also at five year lows.  The last time Pacific Halibut was quoted by Urner Barry below $6.50 for 10-20 lbs. dressed halibut was in 2013.

The primary driver is the loss of much of the East Coast market to Pacific Halibut. This is because Canadian production continues to increase ...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Market Weakening to Lowest Prices of the Post EMS Era

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton and Angel Rubio – May 15, 2018

The US shrimp market is weak, and is approaching its support levels of the post EMS era, according to Urner Barry’s market analysts.

Everyone knows that shrimp prices in the US have been steadily declining for at least a year, and that the decline accelerated since the beginning of 2018.  This is not surprising given the increases in global production and the record levels of US imports in 2016, 2017, and the first months of 2018 ...

European Wholefish Imports Up Over 90% Year-To-Date From Norway and Scotland 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Janice Schreiber - March 6, 2018

European wholefish imports up over 90% year-to-date from Norway and Scotland. One of the themes in the fresh wholefish category for 2017 was the increase in imports from Europe. Norway ended the year with a 97.7 percent increase year-to-date and...

US Shrimp Imports set Record in 2017, up 10% Over Prior Year

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Urner Barry] by Paul Brown, Jr. - February 8, 2018

December shrimp imports were just released and were 10.6% higher for the month, leaving year end imports for 2017 10% higher than a year ago.

Imports were led by India with 32% of the market share. Indian imports were up 32% in December leaving year end imports up 39%.

Indonesian imports were 17.8% higher for December and almost even for the year with 2016. Thailand imports were down for both December and EOY. Ecuador imports were up in December and slightly lower for the year end. Vietnamese imports were lower while ...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Fillets Adjust Lower Again; Supply Looks to be Increasing 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Urner Barry] Janice Schreiber - July 12, 2017

The Chilean salmon fillet market continued to trend lower yesterday. Supplies range fully adequate to ample in the spot market coupled with a seasonally lackluster demand period. Downward pricing pressure is being felt not only from other origins of farmed salmon (i.e. Canada and Europe) but also from the growing supply of wild salmon; especially sockeyes.

Additionally, market participants report that the volumes available out of Chile will continue ...

FDA Seafood Refusals Down Sharply in 2017 Rejections for Filth Slide 50%

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 5, 2017

Filth is still the top reason for the FDA’s seafood refusals in 2017 but the administration is refusing far less seafood this year compared to 2016 levels.

In May, the FDA’s seafood refusals were down 40 percent compared to the same time last year—a difference of about 70 line items.

Overall, the administration has refused 697 line items of seafood, which is down 27 percent from year-to-date figures in 2016...

So Far Louisiana's Shrimp Harvest is Made Up of Sizes Already in Good Supply

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 30, 2017

Louisiana’s wild shrimp season started about two weeks ago and traders say new season production is so far made up of shrimp that is already in good supply.

Shrimp harvest figures for May won’t be available for another month. In April landings were 5.3 million pounds, a number more than double the five-year-average for the month.

The harvest for the year is now at 13.2 million pounds, which is below the five-year-average for the fishery...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Exports at Record Levels in 2017 as Sales to Asia Dominate Market Share

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 22, 2017

Ecuadorian farmed shrimp production in 2017 is at record high levels and the country’s sales to the Asian market account for more than half of its output. This continues to cut into the US and EU market share for Ecuadorian shrimp.

According to an Urner Barry analysis of Ecuadorian shrimp exports, the country exported 282.6 million pounds to all major markets through April 2017. This is a record high figure, up 15 percent from the year prior, an increase of about 37 million pounds. It’s about a 140 million pound increase from just four years ago...

Pricing for 20-30 Count Scallops Upside Down, as U-10 and 10-20 Prices Fall Lower

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton – May 10, 2018

Scallops are priced by size with U-10 and 10-20 count scallops usually selling at a premium over smaller 20-30 count sizes.

Currently that relationship is upside down.  For all natural scallops and dry scallops, 10-20’s are now priced lower than 20-30 count.

And U-10’s, which in January were priced $4.50 per lb. higher than 20-30’s, are now quoted at only a $1.00 premium.

The same pattern is true for processed scallops as well.

This is all due to a shortage of 20-30 scallops...

SEAFOOD: A Decline in Shipments from Canada Leads Lobster Imports Lower in 2017

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Urner Barry] by Jim Kenny - February 9,2018

Imports of lobster products from Canada declined 8.1 percent in December and 4.5 percent in all of 2017. Live was down 7.6% for the month, but was up 1.5% for the year. In-Shell, which includes tails and whole cooked, was down 9.3% in December and 5.4% in 2017. Meat was down 15.4% for the month and 20.9% for the year.

Imports of cold water lobster tails are down 6.7 percent Jan-Dec.

Imports of warm water lobster tails fell 2.8 percent in the month of December, but the annual total was 15.2 percent higher. The rise in 2017 imports is largely attributable to the increase in shipments from the Bahamas and Brazil which were up 50.8 and 33.6 percent respectively.

All imports were 8.1 percent lower ...

Shrimp Imports Continue at Record Pace, Up 15.7% in June Driven by Peeled Shrimp

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Paul Brown  August 9, 2017

Shrimp imports continue to be heavy and on a record pace for the year. Imports for the month of June compared to a year ago are 15.7% higher while YTD imports are up 8.4%.

Indian imports by far, lead the supply of shrimp and account for the increase. June imports from India are up 75.6% with YTD imports 58.8% higher.

Indonesian imports are 17.3% lower in June and down 3.6% YTD.

Ecuador, despite record production, shows ...

Farmed Salmon Prices Enter Summer Season Decline

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 16, 2017

Farmed salmon prices have been in decline since Memorial Day weekend with traders reporting quiet demand in the market with inventories well supplied.

This is a typical time of the year to see farmed salmon prices come down. Salmon starts to compete with other, more grill friendly protein options at the retail level. Buyers also begin to source wild-caught salmon from Alaska as those supplies come become readily available...

Indian Shrimp Imports to US Continue Blistering Pace Ahead of Peak Production Period

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 2, 2017

Shrimp imports from India are reaching the US at a blistering pace this year with the volume much higher than is typical for this time of the year.

The latest data showed monthly shipments up 80 percent in April and 43 percent for the year compared to 2016. In April, the US imported 30.5 million pounds of shrimp from India.  This pushed total US shrimp imports from the country to 110 million pounds for the year so far...

Oregon Pink Shrimp Volume Steady; Small Sizes Remain a Concern

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Susan Chambers - May 24, 2017

Coldwater pink shrimp is finally being landed on the West Coast -- but not without controversy.

Oregon processors budged little on their initial price offerings to their vessels, fishermen said, but competition from some Washington boats eventually led to Oregon shrimpers accepting ex-vessel prices lower than they had hoped -- prices more in line with 2004 and 2006 prices, they said.

Oregon shrimper Nick Edwards said fishermen started the 2016 season...