Japan: August Fishery Products Exports Surged 57%, Value Increasing 25%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on September 26, August's fishery products exports (fish, shellfish, seafood preparations, and fish meal) increased 57% in volume to 50,267 tons compared to the same month last year. They increased 25% in value to 26.754 billion yen ($182.16 million). Scallop exports decreased by 18% to 5,982 tons, but increased by 28% to 8.673 billion yen ($59.04 million). Both shelled and unshelled exports experienced a decrease in volume but an increase in value, resulting in a rise in unit price. Yellowtail exports were down 16% in volume but increased 44% in value. Both volume and value of frozen yellowtail fillets increased, Minato Shimbun reported...

Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners: Coffee, Cocoa Among Exempt Commodities

As of September 5, products like coffee, cocoa, and tea (along with hundreds more) may be exempt from US reciprocal tariffs if a country’s leaders make a deal with the US trade team, according to a White House fact sheet that specifies exemptions for trading partners that make substantial, reciprocal commitments to mitigate the national emergency-inducing trade-deficit.

To date, market participants watched as deals with the European Union and Indonesia provided a vague mention towards exemptions for “natural resources” like EU cork...

Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline

US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET. 

It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...

Russian Pollock Fillet Market Expected to Double by 2028

The Russian pollock fillet market is expected to double by 2028, reaching 90,000–100,000 tons, driven by steadily increasing domestic production and consumption.

This forecast was recently made by experts from the Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Owners (ASRF) in an interview with local newswire RIA Novosti.

According to the Association, more than 40,000 tons of pollock fillets were supplied to the domestic market last year—twice as much as in 2023. This growth was driven mainly by Russian processors redirecting product from foreign markets...

Today's Top Story: Florida Seafood Exec Pleads Guilty in $8 Million Stone Crab and Spiny Lobster Price-Fixing Scheme

In today’s top story, Florida seafood executive Dennis Dopico pleaded guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices paid to Florida fishermen for stone crab claws and spiny lobster, impacting roughly $8 million in purchases between 2023 and 2025...

Today's Top Story: Vietnam Asks United States to Reconsider Seafood Export Ban

In today’s top story, Vietnam has formally requested the US to reverse a decision that could ban select Vietnamese seafood exports starting January 2026. The ban, linked to NOAA’s denial of “comparability findings” for 12 fishing methods under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, threatens key products like tuna, swordfish, crab and squid...

ANALYSIS: Navigating Supply Challenges and Regulatory Pressures in the US Crab Meat Market

The US blue and red swimming crab meat market is confronting a complex and evolving set of challenges that are driving significant upward price pressures and operational uncertainties. Central to this turbulence is the imminent enforcement of NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) import rules, set to take effect January 1, 2026, alongside persistent steep tariffs on imported crab meat...

Today's Top Story: Strong YTD Frozen Tuna Imports Meet Escalating Trade and Compliance Challenges

In today’s top story, US imports of frozen tuna fillet from Vietnam and Indonesia show mixed July results, though both countries posted strong year-to-date growth. Yet, the market faces major headwinds from new tariffs and stricter US marine mammal protections...

US Crab Imports Smash Records, but Fall Brings New Tests

Imports of snow and king crab through July 2025 are running at unprecedented levels, well ahead of expectations. Snow crab, driven by record shipments from Canada and Norway, has already surpassed the entire 2024 total, reaching 123.9 million pounds in the first seven months of the year. With only limited inventory left to ship, US imports are now projected to exceed the post-sanction high of 128.6 million pounds set in 2023.

King crab imports tell a similar story, though constrained by tight supply. Norwegian red king crab...

ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Imports Surge 18%; Forecasts Point to August Contraction

Our forecast matched official figures closely for total shrimp imports. The product mix shifted in July due to a transition period and a rush to order before tariff deadlines, resulting in an overhang for certain categories. Cooked product was in line with forecasts. July set a record for monthly imports...

Seafood Industry Begins Assessing Impact of 2026 MMPA Import Restrictions

As NOAA Fisheries prepares to enforce strict import rules starting January 1, 2026, industry stakeholders across the seafood supply chain are ramping up efforts to understand the potential disruptions stemming from the agency's recent comparability findings. 

With 46 nations facing import restrictions, denial, partial ratings, or pending reapplication, buyers, sellers and processors are closely monitoring how these regulatory changes could impact their businesses. 

On August 28, NOAA Fisheries effectively established a deadline for countries to meet the standards under the Marine Mammal...

Today's Top Story: FDA Finds 36% of Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted; All Violations Detained at US Border

In today’s top story, a new FDA sampling assignment found 36% of imported frozen seafood products, including shrimp and squid from Indonesia, China and Vietnam, fell short of declared net weight. The FDA says the results highlight ongoing risks of economically motivated adulteration in frozen seafood, reaffirming the need for continued scrutiny to protect US consumers...

NOAA Says 46 Nations Face Stringent Import Rules Starting in 2026 Under MMPA Provisions

NOAA Fisheries announced that 46 nations’ fisheries will face import restrictions starting January 1, 2026, after the agency issued comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A comparability finding is a designation by NOAA Fisheries verifies a nation's fishing practices that meet certain standards in managing marine mammal bycatch. This determination ensures that a country's fish exports or exempt fisheries have effectively implemented measures to prevent harm to marine mammals.

With ratings issued, NOAA Fisheries said starting on January 1, 2026...

Today's Top Story: NOAA Fisheries Calls for Comments on Revitalizing US Seafood Following Trump Executive Order

In today’s top story, NOAA Fisheries is inviting public comments on the administration’s “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” executive order, aimed at revitalizing the US seafood sector amid declining landings and revenues. The agency will consider regulatory changes, review fishing limits in marine national monuments and modernize data collection...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #23

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #23."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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This week, tariff news took a bit of a backseat to US President Trump’s dealings with Russian President Putin in Alaska—along with President Trump’s meeting with many European leaders...

ANALYSIS: Robust EU-UK Shrimp Imports in H1 2025 Signal Market Shifts

The European Union has just released its latest trade volume data for June 2025, revealing that total shrimp imports in the EU-UK region remain well above the five-year historical averages, reaching 60,950 metric tons in June. Although this represents a 4.9% decrease compared to May, it marks a notable 13.0% increase year-over-year. This figure is 19.7% higher than the five-year average for the month of June. The decline in June follows a typical seasonal pattern...

Today's Top Story: Channel Fish, High Liner and Trident Share $84 Million Alaska Pollock Award from USDA

In today’s top story, Channel Fish Processing, High Liner Foods and Trident Seafoods have secured contracts for a massive $84 million USDA purchase of 34.7 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock products...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #28

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #28."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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On Tuesday in New York, US President Trump gave remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, via the White House live stream...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #27

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #27."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

...

US tariff revenue may be used to fund the nation’s farmers, reported Reuters about an interview between Agriculture Secretary Rollins and the Financial Times...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Region Sees Record-high Shrimp Imports in July

The European Union has released its latest trade data for July 2025, indicating that shrimp imports in the EU-UK region continue to rise, reaching a record high for this time of year—67,340 metric tons, valued at €430.0 million. This marks a significant year-over-year increase of 13.0% in volume and 8.6% in value. The imported volume is also 20.8% above the five-year July average. The uptick in imports aligns with the seasonal trend in which European importers schedule deliveries to replenish inventories after the...

Today's Top Story: Florida Seafood Executive Indicted Over Alleged Stone Crab, Spiny Lobster Price-Fixing Conspiracy

In today’s top story, Dennis Dopico, Vice President of Florida-based D&D Seafood Co., has been indicted by the US Department of Justice for allegedly conspiring with executives from multiple companies to fix prices paid to fishermen for stone crab claws and spiny lobster...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #26

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read: "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #26."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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Despite 50% tariffs remaining on Brazil and India, the Indian Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump expressed positivity that the respective trade teams would reach a deal, according to their latest social media...

ANALYSIS: Strong YTD Frozen Tuna Imports Meet Escalating Trade and Compliance Challenges

Frozen tuna fillet imports from Vietnam and Indonesia reflect a nuanced market picture—short-term divergence layered atop strong year-to-date growth. In July 2025, Indonesia posted a modest 1.3% year-over-year gain, while Vietnam saw a sharper 12.9% decline. However, on a broader scale, import volumes tell a more bullish story: year-to-date, Vietnam’s exports to the U.S. are up 30.8%, while Indonesia has climbed 15.2% over the same period. This aligns with the broader trend, as total imports from all countries are up...

ANALYSIS: Short-term Import Relief Fuels Groundfish Markets as Long-term Constraints Linger

Recent import data and market signals indicate that the groundfish sector is experiencing short-term rebounds amid longer-term supply constraints. Monthly flows of cod, pollock and haddock fillets rose in July, led by larger shipments from China and gains from Vietnam and Canada; however, year-to-date volumes remain below 2024 levels. At the same time, quota cuts, most notably a 25% reduction in the Norwegian...

Global Seafood Faces "Perfect Storm" of Tariffs and Risk, Rabobank Warns

The global seafood industry is amidst a period of profound disruption, according to the latest Rabobank report.

Seafood producers and exporters are being impacted by tariffs and geopolitical tensions, notably in Asia. Meanwhile, consumers in the Western part of the globe are facing increased prices and reduced availability of seafood staples.

“The seafood industry is navigating a perfect storm of trade barriers, geopolitical risk, and supply chain fragility,” said Gorjan Nikolik, Senior Global Specialist Seafood at RaboResearch. “Strategic diversification—both in sourcing and market access—is no longer optional...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #25

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #25."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

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In the States, a federal appeals court ruled that US President Trump’s use of global tariffs exceeded presidential authority, but they remain active until at least October 14, 2025...

FDA Finds 36% of Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted; All Violations Detained at US Border

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled results from a sampling assignment focused on testing imported frozen seafood products for short weighting.

The FDA said short weighting can occur in frozen seafood products when the net weight includes the weight of the added water glaze or ice. The addition of water glaze or ice is a common practice to help protect from freezer burn during storage.

However, overstating the net weight of frozen seafood by including the weight of glazing (ice) is not permitted...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #24

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #24."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text.

...

On August 22, Canadian Prime Minister Carney dropped most retaliatory tariffs on US products, beginning September 1, reported Expana in an article that suggested the move may help soothe trade relations...

Japanese Seafood Businesses Skeptical that Exports to China Will Return to Form

At the end of June, the Chinese government announced that it would lift the ban on Japanese seafood that had been in place since 2023. Japanese businesses are making various preparations for the resumption of exports to China, marking the first such move in nearly two years. However, over the past two years, country risks have become apparent, and sales channels have diversified beyond China. Some businesses are skeptical that exports to China will regain their former popularity, reported Minato Shimbun. 

China was once a central processing...

ANALYSIS: Robust EU-UK Shrimp Imports in H1 2025 Signal Market Shifts

In today’s top story, shrimp imports to the EU-UK region soared 13% year-over-year in June and totaled 338,383 mt in H1 2025—up 10% from last year and 15% above the five-year average. Ecuador led the pack with a 62% increase in June, capturing 36% of the market, while Indian and Vietnamese exports also saw healthy gains, partly due to US tariff hikes that pushed exporters to target European buyers...