ANALYSIS: A Look at the Farmed Salmon Market this Week and its Reaction to COVID-19

The farmed salmon market, especially on fresh whole fish, was hit hard by the closure of U.S. restaurants this week. While other protein items that are frozen can weather the storm for a period of time, fresh perishable items, like farmed salmon, do not have that option.

The farmed salmon index at the end of this week dropped 4 percent from the previous week and is down 6 percent from the end of February...

ANALYSIS: A Look at the Impact of the Coronavirus on the Cruise Industry

The impact of coronavirus continues to grow with increased restrictions implemented daily.

China restricted movements and shut down business commerce, Italy followed suit after a surge in cases, and now the United States has restricted travel from Europe, have stopped professional sport leagues or large gatherings in certain states, or have called for no spectators at others. This has impacted the global economy leading to steep financial market losses and bond yields.

The situation is so fluid that only four days ago, the U.S State Department recommended...

ANALYSIS: Salmon at Retail Remains Active; Shift in Market Share for Whole Fish

Market participants in the farmed salmon market, as with all other markets across the globe, continue to watch how the coronavirus (COVID-19) unfolds and how consumers, governments, etc… react. As has been documented in other reports and articles on our sites, foodservice demand is very quiet and thus having an effect on fresh whole salmon; which is the more popular product form for foodservice. Most origins of fresh whole salmon adjusted lower yesterday with the exception of Chilean whole fish which had...

ANALYSIS: European Demand Continues to Support Red Argentine Shrimp Sales, Despite Cautious Buying

While European supply of wild caught Pleoticus Muelleri—better known as Argentine red shrimp—remains somewhat insulated from the COVID-19 outbreak, economic and geo-political uncertainty continue to influence trade dynamics.

In a bid to protect the growth of juvenile Argentine red shrimps, carefully considered measures, including adjustments to harvest schedules, have been taken in recent years. As a result, the Argentine red shrimp industry is the most profitable fishery in the Argentine Sea.

Between 2012 and 2015 the Argentine red shrimp fishery was...

ANALYSIS: Frozen Atlantic Salmon Imports Hit All Time High in 2019

Frozen Atlantic salmon fillets finish 2019 at an all-time high. A total of 111.8 million pounds were imported for 2019, which is 9.9 percent higher than 2018 and 12.7 percent higher than the overall 2017 total.

The leaders in the category saw higher levels to close out 2019. Chile imported 70.3 million pounds, up 1.5 percent from last year and Norway imported 31.2 million pounds, up 8.6 percent from last year.

The month of December saw the largest spike on record...

ANALYSIS: Alaska Snow Crab Begins to Trickle into U.S. Market

Alaskan snow crab is reportedly starting to become available. We have reported in the frozen crab commentary that trading looks to be taking place on 5-8s between $8.75 and $8.95 FOB Seattle.

The 2019/2020 Bering Sea snow crab season technically runs between October 15 through May 31. However, fishing does not usually start to pick up until the end of December and into January, with the highest volumes seen in the market in February and March...

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ANALYSIS: Squid Imports Lowest in 10 Years, 2020 Outlook

2019 imports of squid into the U.S. totaled 131.6 million pounds of volume with an estimated value of $313.9 million. Volume has fallen just over 30.2 million pounds from the previous 3-year average of 161.8 million pounds.

When looking at a breakdown by origin, volume from mainland China retreated significantly, falling 33.3 million pounds from 2018 or by 32.6 percent. Republic of Korea (-41.5%), Argentina (-12.8%), India (-4.7%), and China (Taiwan, -2.4%) also exported less product in 2019, while New Zealand..

ANALYSIS: Lobster Imports Higher in December; More In-Shell and Meat from Canada

Imports of lobster products into the U.S. increased for the second-straight month. December imports totaled 13.8 million pounds compared to 13.3 in December 2018. Still, the 2019 annual total is 4.4 percent behind last year; reflective of a 5.6 million-pound shortfall.

Product from Canada accounts for roughly 87 percent of lobster entering the country, so it’s not a surprise that Imports from Canada also increased for the second-straight month. In December, 7.6 percent more product entered the U.S. from...

ANALYSIS: YTD Pangasius Volume has Fallen Every Month Since March

November imports of pangasius frozen fillets totaled 9.5 million pounds and is the lowest November on record since 2008 brought in 4.8 million pounds. Import volume fell 6.2 percent from the previous month and 49.8 percent from November 2018 when imports totaled 18.8 million pounds.

On a YTD basis, January through November volume falls 41.8 percent below the same 2018 timeframe, or by 77.5 million pounds. YTD volume has fallen month-over-month since March 2019.

When looking at the previous 3-year average for the month of November...

VIDEO: Chile Protests; Land-based Aquaculture to Grow; Oregon Rep. Calls Out Pebble Mine and More

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Andraia Torsiello and Ryan Doyle as they discuss the impact protests in Chile are having on the salmon market; a recent report from Rabobank that predicts land-based farming becoming a game-changer for the seafood industry; Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio ripping Pebble Mine and the latest on the octopus market. 

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed for the seafood import...

ANALYSIS: Shrimp Imports Climb Again in June

June imports were released today and the trend of monthly year-over-year growth remained intact. Shipments to the U.S. in June were 6.6 percent higher than June 2018. This has narrowed the total imports year-to-date to near parity with the first half of last year. Shipments currently lag last year by only 0.6 percent.

The top four countries, India (+16.1%), Indonesia (+5.6%), Ecuador (+31.3%), and Vietnam (+10.0%), along with Mexico (+135.4%) all showed gains and overpowered any lower imports by other trade partners...

ANALYSIS: Unsettled Headless Shell-on White Shrimp Market, Latin Origin in Graphs

Recent weakness in 16-20 and 21-25 count headless shell-on shrimp from Latin America may have come as a surprise to many market watchers. However, a quick look at import volume and price should help participants understand why the market has become somewhat unsettled. While demand is still seen supportive overall, there are sellers that have product readily available...

ANALYSIS: Unsettled Scallop Market

Heading into the fourth month of the 2019 Atlantic sea scallop season, the current market is quite unsettled. U10 landings are still abundant, however slightly less than the volumes we were seeing a few weeks ago. Of this volume, there is a very limited amount of A+ quality, with the majority of the product falling below that. 

With a healthy supply of product, producers are able to act more competitively, offering enticing discounts in an effort to gain a larger share of the market. However, those that hold the limited higher quality product are...

ANALYSIS: Farm Raised, Asian, Raw P&D, Tail-On, White 16-20 Shrimp Changes Longer Term Weakness

The shrimp market has been in almost continuous free-fall since October 2017; especially value-added shrimp products. Now, roughly halfway through 2019, a look at a price chart on Farm Raised, Asian, Raw P&D, Tail-On, White 16-20 shrimp is like looking in the mirror and things look back at you in opposite fashion. Around May 20 prices crossed last year's levels. Over the first 24 weeks last year, prices...

ANALYSIS: April Lobster Imports Sharply Lower -  Seventh Straight Month of Lower Shipments

The flow of lobster products into the U.S. continues to decline. The April loss extends the trend of year-over-year declines to seven-straight months. April 2019 imports of 4.413 million pounds were 18.6 percent lower when compared last year’s figure of 5.423 million pounds. Year-to-date figures show a 21.1 percent or 6.339-million-pound shortfall.

Imports from Canada are down 25.6 percent in the month and 24.3 percent through four months.  The ongoing trade war with China...

ANALYSIS: Supply Issues for Twice Frozen Haddock

Haddock is on the move, once again, in what seems to be a rollercoaster of events for the market. Frozen haddock fillets from China, originally hit with a 10% tariff beginning September 2018, increasing to 25% in May 2019, saw prices steadily climb to record highs until finally being granted an exclusion in December 2019, allowing prices to finally soften the following month.

Because of those tariffs, importers exercised conservative buying habits with the higher priced product, and now, months later, we are...

ANALYSIS: Snow Crab Supplies in the U.S. Remain Short; Awaiting Alaska Snow Crab to the Spot Market

Market quotations for Canadian snow crab were removed last week. Canadian snow crab supplies are nil and snow crab supplies from other origins, i.e. Alaska and Russia are also very short. Market participants report that they are still fielding calls from buyers looking for or inquiring about product.

Russian snow crab imports ended 2019 up 4.4 percent compared to 2018. It’s an unsettled undertone for Russian snow crab currently with both higher and...

ANALYSIS: January Tilapia Imports and the Impact of the Coronavirus and Tariffs

Tilapia frozen fillets, the largest seafood item by volume imported into the United States from China, has yet to see an impact at the wholesale level in the wake of supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus. With reports from key industry players that overseas plants are currently working at a 25-50% capacity and have started shipping out limited product this week on orders from before the Chinese New Year holiday, wholesale prices remain steady in the 10th week of 2020...

ANALYSIS: Salmon, Cod and Tilapia the All-Stars at Retail During Lent

With the beginning of Lent today, many Christians will start to follow church guidelines to abstain from meat and will look to seafood as an alternative.

Seafood is historically an extremely popular item during the Lenten season before Easter, and salmon is one of the highlights. Each year, the number of buying opportunities at retail rises for the week of Ash Wednesday. This year, even with headwinds from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in certain regions of the world, is shaping up to be no different...

ANALYSIS: Tariff on Red Swimming Crab Meat Persists; Imports Down, Pricing Continues to Drop

Lower imports on red swimming crab meat has seen all of 2019 hovering below the 3-year average. Imports are at the lowest volumes seen in over 10 years and the situation is almost completely reactionary due to the continued 25% tariff that remains in place on red swimming crab meat from China.

With China’s season beginning in August, imports typically begin to rise in September through the end of the year. Taking a quick glance at the cyclical look above, imports have drastically trailed off...

ANALYSIS: December Shrimp Imports 1.4 Percent Lower, India Paces Shipments with 623 Million Pounds

December imports were released today and mirror last month, with a 1.4 percent decline in total volume. The year-over-year figure narrowed slightly as a result, and 2019 imports edged only 0.4 percent higher than 2018. India crossed over 600 million pounds to nearly 623 million pounds and shattered last year’s record shipments to the United States. Our number one trade partner accounted for over 40 percent of all shrimp imported in 2019. Indonesia, Ecuador, Vietnam, and...

ANALYSIS: Tilapia Market Leading into Lent

The market for tilapia frozen fillets is reportedly steady with a decent inventory and tempered demand as we near the Lenten season, beginning Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Currently, wholesale prices for a chem-free frozen fillet from China ranging 5-7 ounces is averaging $2.40. This is the highest price recorded since April 2015...

ANALYSIS: Second Month-Over-Month Surge for Chinese Catfish

Imports for Chinese catfish frozen fillets totaled 1.7 million pounds for the month of November, increasing 52.7 percent from October, which saw a 125.2 percent increase over the previous month.

Compared to November 2018, imports are 80.8 percent above last year's volume, however, on a YTD basis, 2019 still falls 20.4 percent below 2018 levels.

November 2019 import volume comes in 70.7 percent, or 723,011 pounds, above the previous 3-year average of just over 1 million pounds.

Domestic consumption within China of this...

ANALYSIS: Seafood Items Swimming Upstream in October

October, as many say in the industry, is called National Seafood month for a reason, demand is quiet. School is in session and the U.S.’s appetite for seafood tends to wane during the Fall.

There are several seafood items, however, that are swimming upstream this fall. Each species has its own story to tell, but the theme circles around a lack of supply coupled with what appears to be an insatiable demand.

King and Snow Crab

Both king and snow crab demand has been active over the past several weeks...

The Fishery Problem from Hell: Right Whales and Gear Entanglement (The Winding Glass)

The right whale population is hovering at the brink of failure, with around 400 surviving individuals.  In some years, there has been some population increase, and in other years not.  But the fact is that unintentional killing of right whales through both ship strikes and gear entanglements is preventing the population from increasing to a safer level and exacerbating the risk the entire species will go extinct.

Although the population increased between 1990 and 2010, since then it has begun another decline...

ANALYSIS: Strong Canadian Lobster Landings

Strong Canadian landings coupled with the seasonal lull in demand has put downward pressure on live lobster prices.  The current average market price for 2lb hard shell lobster FOB New England is $8.05, down 8% compared to this time last year.  The lower price adjustments have been closely following the seasonal pattern; however, for the month of June prices have stalled while the historical chart indicates an upward trend.

Market prices peaked mid- February and adjusted lower as the Canadian spring fishing seasons commenced...

ANALYSIS: Venezuela Crab Meat Imports into U.S. Drop Dramatically

Venezuela’s market share has grown in 2019. Through April, Venezuela owns a 14.6 percent market share; a rise from their 9.97 percent market share last year at the same time. Year-to-date figures are up 49.1 percent and currently 2.5 million pounds have been imported into the U.S. market this year. Venezuela is the second highest importing country to Indonesia, who is the far and away leader in the category.

However, with the country’s current political climate, imports into the...

ANALYSIS: April Pangasius Imports Lowest Since 2007

Imports of pangasius frozen fillets totaled 5.6 million pounds for the month of April. Volumes fell 44.4 percent from the previous month and 56.6 percent from April 2018 when imports totaled 12.9 million pounds. This is the lowest recorded month of imports since February 2009 brought in 5.3 million pounds, and the lowest April on record since 2007 recorded 3.3 million pounds of product.

Pangasius imports have fallen month-over-month since January. When looking at the previous 3-year average for the month of April, April 2019 falls 66.1 percent below...  

ANALYSIS: Chinese Tariff's Impact on Red Swimming Crab Meat Market

The Chinese tariff increase of 10 - 25% is an issue at the forefront for the red swimming crab meat market. China, the largest supplier of red swimming crab meat, saw record breaking imports at the end of 2018, just as the 10% tariff was being implemented and the threat for the January 1, 2019 tariff increase of 25% was baited. With much of the production front-loaded in the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, imports in 2019 have fallen off dramatically. Now, with the administration’s sudden implementation of...