ANALYSIS: China’s North American Lobster Imports Show Early-Year Decline

The latest GACC (General Administration of Chinese Customs) import figures show that volumes of Homarus Americanus entering China fell year‑over‑year in January–February. Two years ago, combined January–February imports stood at 6,427 metric tons (MT); they dropped by 7.1% in 2025 and declined by a further 18.1% in 2026 to reach 4,889 MT. In USD value, this translates into a 12.3% decrease last year, followed by a 21.1% fall year-over-year for the first couple of...

Hunchun Border Crossing Becomes Main Gateway for Russian Live Crab to China

Russian‑Chinese crab trade has strengthened in recent months, supported by a surge in Chinese demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.

To handle higher volumes, logistics have improved significantly. Most Russian live crab now enters China through the Hunchun border crossing, which operated at full capacity prior to the holiday period due to increased shipments from Russia, according to Chinese media.

Hunchun, located in China's Jilin Province at the junction of the borders with Russia and North Korea, has...

BioMar Expands Wuxi Facility with New Production Line

BioMar is expanding its production footprint in China, announcing plans to add a second production line at its Wuxi facility in 2026. The move follows several years of growth in partnership with joint venture partner Tongwei.

The expansion will increase capacity at Wuxi by 50,000 tonnes and introduce new technological capabilities, allowing the facility to produce specialty products for early growth stages and additional high-end species. Today, the Wuxi site primarily serves farmers producing trout, salmon, sturgeon, largemouth bass, turbot and yellow croaker. With the...

Russian Fish Exports to China Reach 1.9M Tons Amid Persistent Tariff Barriers

China continues to maintain tariffs on key Russian fish export products despite growing fisheries trade between the two countries. 

Official data shows that Russian fish exports to China reached 1.91 million tons, worth US$3.4 billion, in 2025. Exports could have been higher if not for tariff restrictions limiting supply. 

Updated tariffs that took effect January 1, 2026, are set at 5% on a wide range of products, including frozen pollock, herring, cod, and blue whiting. In 2025, these species accounted for 71% of the...

US Trade Policy Shifts After IEEPA Loss; Seafood, Rice Targeted in Section 301 Investigations

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Trump’s use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) affects only “one element” of the administration’s trade strategy.

Greer added that the administration remains committed to implementing Trump’s trade policy, noting it was one of his core campaign messages. The administration has warned for months that if courts struck down Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, he would use “alternative tools.”

One of those tools will be to launch...

Russia Targets Growth in Shrimp Imports and Production

Russia plans to significantly increase shrimp production and imports in the coming years as local demand remains strong.

According to the Fish Union, Russia increased shrimp imports by at least 2% in volume last year, while the value of imports rose by 20%.

India, Vietnam, and China are among the largest shrimp exporters to Russia, with India being the top supplier, providing 19,000 tonnes in 2025.

Russia imports shrimp species not produced locally due to climatic conditions, including farmed Vannamei shrimp, farmed tiger shrimp, wild Argentine shrimp, and more than 25 other...

US Market Challenges Push Norwegian Salmon Fillet Exports Down 37%, Poland and China Surge

Norwegian seafood exports fell 3% in value at the start of 2026 compared to January last year, as the US market faced “unpredictable tariffs,” a weaker dollar, and rising competition, the Norwegian Seafood Council reports. CEO Christian Chramer pointed to lower salmon prices, reduced quotas for several wild species, and challenging market access as key factors behind the decline.

At this point last year, the US was the largest single market for Norwegian seafood. Today, the value of exports destined for the US has declined...

GSMC 2026: Farmed Salmon Faces Growing China Demand as Buyers Adjust Sourcing

Buyers and producers at GSMC 2026 painted a picture of a salmon market in flux: wild runs are tight and commanding premiums, while farmed volumes and shifting trade flows, notably surging demand from China and other Asian markets, will largely determine where product lands in 2026. Panelists warned US buyers to expect constrained farmed supply, price pressure and the need for proactive sourcing decisions as Chilean and Norwegian harvests flatten after strong 2025 performances.

The conversation, moderated by Richard Barry of the National Fisheries Institute...

Canada and China Reach Deal to Remove Tariffs on Lobster, Snow Crab by March 1, 2026

Canada and China have reached an initial trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on Canadian lobster, snow crab, and select agri-food products. The agreement, announced January 16, sets a target of March 1 for China to remove retaliatory duties, reinstating market access after a steep 25% tariff hindered Canadian seafood exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the deal would remove trade barriers and “unlock billions of dollars in business for Canadian farmers, fish harvesters, and workers across agri-food sectors...

Norwegian Seafood Council Flags US Tariffs Impact, Highlights China and Salmon as Growth Drivers

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reported that US tariffs weighed on seafood exports in the second half of 2025 but emphasized that the United States remains a vital market with strong growth potential for Norwegian seafood.

“The USA's new tariffs created a lot of noise and turmoil for Norwegian seafood exports. From being a market with record growth and an almost insatiable appetite for salmon and crab from Norway in the first half of 2025, US trade throughout the year was characterized by tariffs...

Russian Crab Exports to China Up 15% YTD; Competition Expected to Tighten

Russia expects a significant tightening of competition in the Chinese crab market in the coming years as demand rises with China’s expanding middle class, Alexander Dyplyakov, head of the Russian Far East Crab Association, said.

Dyplyakov noted that growing Chinese affluence is attracting interest from multiple producing countries, intensifying competition for market share. Despite the expected pressure, Russia posted solid results in the Chinese crab market this year.

Based on an analysis of Chinese customs data, the Russian Fish Union reports that Russia exported 32,000 tons...

Canada Positions Itself for Growth at Strategically Timed Seafood Conference Ahead of CFSE

China’s role as a critical market for Canadian seafood took center stage at the 2025 Canada Seafood Conference, strategically held one day before the opening of the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo (CFSE), Asia’s largest and most influential seafood trade event. The timing gave Canada first dibs in visibility as global buyers arrived in Qingdao, creating an early platform for engagement with Chinese importers and distributors.

Organized by the Atlantic Canada Business Network (ACBN), the conference gathered more than 100 delegates from Canadian governments, industry associations...

Seafood Trade Mission Builds Stronger Market Connections With China

A recent 10-day trade mission by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith strengthened the province’s relationship with China, Nova Scotia’s second-largest seafood market.

It was also an opportunity to promote the province’s world-class seafood and support Nova Scotia seafood companies on the ground.

“This trade mission was incredibly important for our producers, for our economy and for nurturing relationships,” said Minister Smith. “Beyond promoting our high-quality products, we gained a greater understanding of China’s consumer trends toward...

US-China Tariff Cut Gives Short-Term Relief to Seafood Imports

The US and China reached a trade agreement that reduces a key tariff on Chinese goods and extends several reciprocal exclusions, providing immediate — albeit temporary — relief to US seafood importers and processors, who have been squeezed by higher duties.

Under the agreement, the so-called fentanyl tariff is reduced from 20% to 10%, and reciprocal tariff exclusions are extended through December 31, 2025. Separately, certain Section 301 exclusions that had been set to expire at the end of November 2025 were pushed out...

Russian PCA Exported 500 MT of Pollock Roe to China Under MOU with China’s CAPPMA

The Russian Pollock Fishermen's Association recently announced that this year's exports of pollock roe to China have exceeded 500 tons. Since China has virtually no culture of eating pollock, the association is actively working to develop the Chinese market, Minato Shimbun reported.

According to the Hokkaido Trawl Fisheries Cooperative Federation, the 2024 export volume of Russian pollock roe is approximately 37,000 tons, roughly the same level as the previous year. The majority is destined for Japan and South Korea...

Loss of US Market and Chinese Pressure Threaten Russian Crab Sector

The profitability of the Russian crab sector is facing a significant decline due to a heavy dependence on Chinese importers, who are currently dictating terms to Russian crab fishermen, according to Russian analysts.

Analysts argue China’s status as the primary buyer of Russian crab has allowed local Chinese importers to secure new contracts with Russian crab catchers under highly favorable conditions—often by employing price dumping tactics.

Representatives of major Russian crab producers have noted this has already led to...

Norwegian Seafood Exports Slip in February; Salmon Rises but US Demand Falls Sharply

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.8 billion ($1.4 billion) in February, a 2% decline from the same month a year earlier, the Norwegian Seafood Council reported on March 4. Exports for January–February totaled NOK 28.5 billion, down NOK 777 million (2.7%) versus the same period in 2025.

“Lower supplies of shellfish and wild-caught fish due to quota reductions, combined with a still troubled world and trade barriers, are affecting the market, product flows and prices even more strongly than we have experienced before...

China Confirms 25% Tariff Removal on Canadian Lobster, Crab Effective March 1

China’s Finance Ministry confirmed on Friday that its 25% tariff on lobster and crab imports from Canada will be lifted on March 1 through the end of 2026.

The initial trade agreement between China and Canada was announced in mid-January, with an implementation target of March 1. The deal included the elimination of tariffs on snow crab and lobster, as well as on other agricultural products such as Canadian canola meal and peas.

After the deal was first announced, Geoff Irvine, the Executive Director...

Vietnam Tops China's Lobster Imports as Tariffs Shift Market Share

Vietnam has seen strong growth in lobster exports to China, with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) attributing the surge to increased demand from higher-income shoppers.

According to a February 21 VASEP update, China’s lobster imports reached 69,774 metric tons (MT) in 2025, up nearly 9,000 MT from the previous year and marking the highest volume in five years, based on Chinese Customs data.

This growth propelled Vietnam to become China’s top lobster supplier, surpassing Canada, which faced a 25% tariff that contributed to a 15%...

Japan Seizes Chinese Fishing Vessel Amid Increasing Tensions Between the Two Nations

Yesterday, Japan’s Fisheries Agency Control branch seized the Chinese trawler Ziongtong Yu 11998 and arrested 47-year-old captain Chong Nien Lee, a Chinese national, for allegedly defying orders to stop for inspection at sea. 

The incident took place off the shore of Nagasaki Prefecture, 89.4 nautical miles from the Mejima Lighthouse, according to the arresting documents. This is the first incident involving a Chinese vessel since 2022.

Japanese broadcaster NHK was reported to have said the vessel was...

Russia Maintains Crab Exports to China as US Market Remains Closed

Russia continues to supply crab to China from its Northern Basin amid limited export options, particularly to the US and the EU.

According to the Russian agricultural regulator Rosselkhoznadzor, in January 2026, about 27 tonnes of live crab from the Murmansk region were shipped to China. For the entirety of 2025, approximately 530 tonnes of live crab were exported to China from the Russian North, with a significant portion transported by air due to the long distance.

These volumes are significantly lower...

China’s Fish Exports to Russia Reach Decade High in 2025

China increased its fish supplies to the Russian market to a ten-year high in 2025, with export growth continuing into 2026.

The latest figures, reported by Russian newswire RIA Novosti and based on Chinese customs data, show Chinese companies exported fish to Russia worth US$188.3 million in 2025 – up from US$141.1 million in 2024. The 34% year-on-year increase marked the highest level since 2015...

Russia Eyes Further Live Crab Export Growth to China in 2026

Russia plans to further increase crab exports to China in 2026, with particular focus on live crab supplies, which remain in strong demand among Chinese consumers.

Last year, Russia exported up to 38,500 tons of live crab to China, marking a 10% increase over 2024 and a 20% rise compared to 2023. In value terms, these exports amounted to approximately US$1.1 billion.

These figures are expected to grow further in 2026, as Russian fishermen place high hopes on continued strong demand from China...

Proximar in Japan and Nordic Aqua in China Show Norway's Success in RAS Salmon to Asian Markets

Two Norwegian Atlantic salmon producers, both using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), have released strong financial and production reports for Q4 2025.

Proximar Seafood AS announced its tenth regular production update following the initiation of production of Atlantic salmon in its Oyama facility in Japan in October 2022.

Nordic Aqua also reported good news from its facility in Ningbo, China. That facility reported a commercial harvest of 353 tonnes head-on gutted (HOG) Atlantic salmon, with an average harvest weight of 3.3 kg...

Nordic Aqua Ningbo Lines Up Long‑Term Equity and Debt to Expand Land‑Based Salmon Production

Nordic Aqua Partners AS (NOAP) is pleased to confirm the completion of the co-investment into Nordic Aqua (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. (Nordic Aqua Ningbo), a subsidiary of NOAP, together with the refinancing of the company's long-term debt. These transactions materially strengthen the capital structure of Nordic Aqua Ningbo and provide long-term funding visibility for the next phase of growth.

Under the co-investment agreement, Ningbo Ocean Development Group Co., Ltd...

Norway’s November Seafood Exports Fall as Asia Gains Share While US, Europe Lose Ground

Norway saw its seafood exports fall from a value standpoint for the second month in a row, as US tariffs led to market shifts, and the increased value of the Norwegian krone has made the country’s seafood products more expensive, according to the latest update from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

“This is the second month in a row that seafood exports have fallen in value compared with the same month last year. In November, even historically high prices were unable to compensate...

Hokkaido Scallop Industry "Unperturbed" by the Chinese Import Ban

On November 19, it was revealed that the Chinese government had once again suspended import procedures for Japanese seafood. Still, there is no sign of any major unrest in Hokkaido's scallop industry. Since the full ban in August 2023, sales channels have been developed and expanded into other countries, including the United States and Southeast Asia, advancing the "distance from China" movement. In addition, even after the ban was lifted in June of this year, only one processing facility in Hokkaido capable of exporting to China was registered by China...

USDA Gets Seafood Liaison Post After Shutdown Deal; Appropriations Move to Bar China‑Sourced Seafood

The US government has approved a Seafood Liaison position within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) included in the appropriations legislation that put an end to the longest government shutdown in the history of the country.

The post is funded through the FY2026 Agriculture appropriations package, where Senate Appropriations Committee language earmarks $625,000 to establish a “Seafood Industry Liaison” in the Office of the Secretary. Committee text describes the liaison as “solely responsible for the effective coordination of seafood policies...

US Share of Norwegian Salmon Slips as Tariffs Push Growth Toward Asia in 2025

The United States has become a smaller share of the Norwegian salmon market in recent months as tariffs play a significant role in the market shift.

In its monthly Norwegian seafood export update, the Norwegian Seafood Council said that salmon export growth to the US has slowed down in recent months. Over the last three months, only 8% of Norwegian salmon exports were destined for the us. That number was as high as 11.5% in the first quarter of 2025. Despite this, the US remains among...

Norwegian Exports Climb in September as China Buoys Salmon Demand, US Fresh Sales Slip

Norwegian seafood exports posted robust numbers in September, buoyed by both rising prices and strong demand, particularly for salmon shipped to China, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, credited higher prices for mackerel, cod, saithe and king crab to go along with the strong growth in the Chinese market.

"The EU is still our largest overall market, but Norway is now taking an increasing share of the growing Chinese salmon and prawn market...