Strong Start for Gulf of Mexico Shrimp in January; Texas Leads in Landings

This year is looking a whole lot better for Gulf of Mexico shrimpers, particularly Texas shrimpers, as January landings are the best since 2012, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

The SSA put the recent NMFS data into historical context for its January compilation report, reported earlier this week.

In January, 4.1 million pounds of shrimp were landed in the Gulf of Mexico, up from 2.8 million pounds in January 2020 and 2.4 million pounds in January 2019, according ...

Pan-Seared Shrimp is Back at Pancheros for a Limited Time

‘Tis the season for limited time seafood offerings! The latest franchise to announce the addition of seafood to their menu is Pancheros Mexican Grill. The restaurant chain has brought back their pan-seared shrimp just for Lent. 

Pancheros offers create-your-own burritos, burrito bowls, salads, tacos and quesadillas. Guests usually have their choice of fresh cut, marinated grilled steak, slow roasted, seasoned pork carinates, marinated, all white meat chicken, or plant alternative Tofusada. Now, until April 4, customers can add Pancheros’ sweet and tangy shrimp to their order...

Seafood Exporters Encountering Great Challenges in Chinese Market

Under the influence of coronavirus, Chinese foodies are losing confidence in imported seafood. According to earlier research, more than 85% of interviewees said they think twice before purchasing. Apart from this, seafood exporters have also been facing some other hindrances in their sales to China.

On the top of this list is rising transportation costs. For example, as available statistics from South China Morning Post show, delivery fees between China and America’s West Coast has ballooned by 208%, while that to the East Coast has jumped by...

White Castle Brings Back Crab Cake Sliders For Lent After Cutting it From Menu in 2020

We’ve got good news for White Castle lovers...the Seafood Crab Cake Slider is back for Lent!

White Castle added the Crab Cake Slider to their menu back in 2017, and it was featured during the Lenten season during 2018 and 2019. However, last year the item was cut from the seasonal seafood lineup to make room for the chain’s new Panko Breaded Fish Slider.

Well, White Castle appears to have listened to their devoted followers who were devastated to...

VIDEO: Valentine’s Spending Decline; Retail Saves Lobster; Salmon Struggling; EU Shrimp Subdued

This week SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione take a look at Valentine's Day spending for 2021. Plus, find out how retail is saving lobster this Valentine's Day; salmon's struggle; and how EU shrimp remains subdued. 

This episode was brought to you by Urner Barry's new Insights offering, which is coming this March. This largely digital offering will allow subscribers to read, watch and listen to impactful market content in a new way like never before...

ANALYSIS: Bangladesh’s Black Tiger Shrimp Farmers Continue to Face Market Shortcomings

Despite adopting international management practices and virus-free seeds in recent years, Bangladeshi shrimp farmers, who primarily farm black tiger shrimp, continue to contend with market shortcomings.  

In addition to economic hurdles imposed by the unwavering pandemic, the domestic shrimp market has had to contend with disastrous weather conditions which has left some farmers unable to restock ponds.

On the back of untimely natural disasters, COVID-induced bottlenecks and subsequent global economic windfalls, exports of frozen shrimp fell by...

PODCAST: Valentine's Day by the Numbers, Maine Lobster Update, Plus Shrimp and Octopus Market News

Join SeafoodNews podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they break down Valentine's Day by the numbers. Plus, learn more about the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative's plans, and find out what's going on in the shrimp and octopus markets.

This podcast is brought to you by Urner Barry’s Reporter magazine, which is out now! The latest issue is packed with great stories, including a food trend forecast for 2021, a look at how restaurants have introduced new design concepts as a result of...

ANALYSIS: December Shrimp Imports Move Higher Again to Another Annual Record

December shrimp imports were released today and show a large increase (+8%) from last year to 146.242 million pounds. This was a reversal from last month’s marginally lower year-over-year figure and put total 2020 imports at 1.645 billion pounds. This again broke the one-year-old record by 6.3 percent. This is the sixth straight year of gains to record levels.

Urner Barry Consulting Economist Angel Rubio forecast 158.688 million pounds for this month.

All the top five trade partners shipped more product to...

China’s Live Shrimp Prices Rising at Pleasingly High Rate, But Upward Trend May End Unexpectedly

China’s live shrimp prices on average have started to increase since the beginning of January, and some have even increased at a surprisingly high rate during late January. In Guangzhou, for example, some white shrimp price is said to balloon by 50% in one day.

That of giant tiger prawns have increased from over 70 yuan/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo) to more than 100 yuan/jin in one week, while later their wholesale price even jumped from...

NaturalShrimp Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for RAS Facility in Iowa

NaturalShrimp hosted a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Webster City, Iowa, facility, known as NaturalShrimp Iowa.

The ceremony was attended by the executive management team of the company, personnel who will be operating the plant, the Webster city mayor and his wife along with local media.

NaturalShrimp’s three Iowa facilities contain the tanks and infrastructure to support the production of shrimp. One site has 240 tanks, 10,000 gallons each, a second site has 24 tanks, 10,000 gallons each and the third site has 240 tanks, 200 to 500 gallons each the company explained...

China Suspends Shrimp Imports From Ecuadorian Establishment Due to White Spot Virus 

China is once again suspending shrimp imports from an Ecuadorian company. But this time it’s not COVID related.

On Monday the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries (MCEIP) posted an update after receiving notification from the General Administration of Customs of China about the suspension of a shrimp export establishment. The reason was cited as the presence of White Spot Virus (WSSV). China’s customs agency had alerted the Embassy of Ecuador in Beijing, which then alerted MCEIP, which coordinates control actions and verifies...

Japan November Fisheries Imports Dip 9%; Chilean Coho Salmon Sees Notable Jump as Shrimp, Squid Fall

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, the November imports of marine products (seafood and its preparations, fish meal, and seaweed) decreased by 9% from the same month of the previous year to 192,326 tons. The cumulative total from January to November was 1.94 million tons, down 8% from the same period of the last year. The annual import volume will likely fall below 2.47 million tons in the previous year, according to the Minato Shimbun...

NaturalShrimp, Hydrenesis Form Joint Venture, Plan to Build $25 Million Shrimp Facility in Florida

NaturalShrimp (NSI) formed a joint venture with Hydrenesis with plans to build a shrimp production facility in northern Florida.

Hydrenesis is a private technology owner and technology commercialization company that partners with leading IP holders and industry insiders to commercialize innovative technologies, NaturalShrimp explained in an announcement.

NSI will take a 50.1% stake in the $25 million venture and will use its technology to oversee the shrimp farming facilities at the site. Hydrenesis, on the other hand will supply its hyper-antioxidant technology...

Plant-Based Seafood Company New Wave Foods Completes $18 Million Series A Financing

Plant-based seafood company New Wave Foods announced on Wednesday that they’ve completed an $18 million Series A round of financing. The investment round was lead by New Enterprise Associates, along with Evolution VC Partners and other “new and existing investors.”

New Wave Foods was founded in 2015 and turned heads with their creation of a sustainable, plant-based shrimp alternative made from seaweed and other natural ingredients. In September 2019 the company received a major boost when Tyson Ventures...

White Shrimp See Price Rebound in Chinese Market, But Uncertainties Loom Ahead

China’s average white shrimp prices have been on the rise since the beginning of December. Facing such increasingly high prices, some farmers have rushed to sell out their deposits, while some have been waiting and hoping for even greater price increase. Insiders’ opinions vary on market prospect of these shrimp.

The prices have been anything but satisfactory for quite some time this year, and there has been very limited demand for those weighing between 40 to 50 shrimps/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo). Many farmers have been forced to raise larger and higher-quality ones so as to meet demand of more demanding buyers and earn money (or just cover costs).

Louisiana Fall Inshore Shrimp Season Set to Close December 23 in Portions of State

As of December 23, at official sunset, the 2020 fall inshore shrimp season in Louisiana will close in all state waters, with the exception of certain waters east of the Mississippi River. 

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the following areas will remain open past December 23: Lake Pontchartrain, Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in Orleans parish from the GIWW East Closure Sector Gate westward to...

U.S. CBP Removes October 2020 Anti-Dumping Duty Charge on Minh Phu 

The saga involving the anti-dumping duty allegations on Minh Phu has been resolved, the company announced this week. Minh Phu CEO Le Van Quang confirmed to the Vietnam New Agency that the company will “continue exporting frozen shrimp to the U.S. without being subject to an anti-dumping duty imposed on shrimp from India or any other anti-dumping duties.” In addition, the company has been refunded anti-dumping duties that it had paid under the CBP’s October 2020 decision...

Sysco Spring 2021 Cutting Edge Solutions Highlights Classic Mexican Street Corn Breaded Shrimp

Sysco is continuing to provide foodservice operators with new and unique menu offerings, innovative meal solutions, and environmentally friendly cleaning and beverage products. 

“Now more than ever, foodservice operators must provide differentiated offerings to succeed in this challenging operating environment,” said Judy Sansone, Sysco’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform offers our customers unique and on-trend products to stay ahead of their competition and provide chef-tested menu items that are not only innovative, but also provide labor and...

The Winding Glass: U.S. Seafood Market Firing on All Cylinders Raising Global Market Share

All of us have been amazed at the strength exhibited by frozen food, and in particular frozen seafood during the pandemic.

Rather than the collapse of foodservice leading to less consumption, American consumers used money they saved by not eating out to increase their share of higher end retail seafood purchases.

This was dramatically evident in the retail demand for crab and lobster, and it has been reflected in pricing.

But another interesting thing is happening in the industry...

Valentine’s Day: Retail Demand a “Life Saver” for Lobster Market, But Not So Much For Others

It’s been a tough year for restaurants who have been dealt devastating blow after devastating blow by the coronavirus pandemic. And unfortunately they won’t see much relief this upcoming Valentine’s Day.

As SeafoodNews reported last year, the percent of people spending money on an evening out for Valentine’s Day has been on a slow decline since 2016. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), just 24% of people surveyed say that they will celebrate Valentine’s Day with...

Popeyes Keeps Sandwich Wars Going With Introduction of Cajun Flounder Sandwich For Lent

This year for Lent Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is introducing a new contender in their “Chicken Sandwich Wars” … their Cajun Flounder Sandwich.

In 2020 the popular restaurant chain brought in a limited time Buttermilk Biscuit Shrimp offering for Lent. In 2021 they’re switching things up by providing consumers with a chicken sandwich replacement. 

Beginning February 11, Popeyes customers across the nation can indulge in the Cajun Flounder Sandwich for just $4.49. The limited time Cajun Flounder Sandwich stars a fried filet on top of...

More Uncertainties Loom Ahead For Ecuador White Shrimp Exports to China

According to statistics from Ecuador, its white shrimp exports to China have increased by 3% to 357,377 tons in 2020 compared with 348,046 tons in 2019. While this seems pleasing on paper considering the great damage brought by coronavirus, it's actually not. Exporters have encountered great challenges in the Asian market last year, and the prospect is far from promising there.

On average, the export price has contracted by about 9% in 2020 compared with the previous year. In December, its exports dived by...

Super Bowl Snack Ideas: The Best Seafood Appetizers To Eat During The Game

Super Bowl LV is this Sunday, February 7, and will find the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 186.6 million adults in the U.S. plan on tuning in to the big game. And although Super Bowl party celebrations will be looking a little different due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there still needs to be snacks out! NRF reports that 86% of viewers are planning to make purchases to mark the occasion...

The Winding Glass:  Supply Disruption a Possible Major Problem for Seafood Industry in 2021

Despite the pandemic and the uncontrolled COVID outbreak in the U.S., 2020 was a banner year for the seafood industry. The spectacular growth in retail seafood sales compensated for the dramatic loss of foodservice opportunities. According to data presented at NFI’s Global Seafood Marketing Conference, overall seafood sales to retail and foodservice combined grew around 7% last year.

This strength is continuing into 2021. Early indications from retailers suggest that the strength of seafood sales is continuing after the holidays. Many are reporting strong...

Southern Shrimp Alliance Releases Data Documenting Antibiotic-Contaminated Shrimp

The Southern Shrimp Alliance has released an updated database that provides data documenting antibiotic-contaminated shrimp import rejections in the United States. 

To put together their database, the Southern Shrimp Alliance turned to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) entry line refusals, which compiles information regarding eerie shrimp entry line refused for reasons related to banned antibiotics between 2002 and 2020. In 2020 the FDA refused 36 line items of shrimp due to antibiotics. Of those 36 line items, 12 were from India. An additional nine were from...

2020 Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings Lowest Recorded

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) released its final survey of Gulf of Mexico shrimp landings for 2020, and the data reveals the lowest landings on record.

For December 2019, landings for all species, headless, reached 6.603 million lbs., compared to 5.527 million in December 2019.

Looking at the cumulative landings from January to December 2020, NMFS is reporting an annual total of 70.78 million lbs. This is 12.4% below the 2019 total of 80.72 million lbs., and 26% below the five-year average of 95.58 million pounds...

Tru Shrimp Company Enter Distribution Partnership with Gordon Food Service

The tru Shrimp Company announced that it has signed a letter of intent to work with Gordon Food Service to help provide its product to consumers through its strong U.S. distribution operations.

The U.S.-based shrimp farmer is looking to provide safe, sustainable shrimp to the American consumer. tru Shrimp believes the partnership with Gordon Food Service “will provide consumers with an unmatched offering, a premium shrimp product produced in the USA.”

tru Shrimp explained that the strategic partnership is a shared vision and commitment by both companies to invest in a U.S.-produced at scale, shrimp product...

ANALYSIS: November Shrimp Imports Ease Slightly From Last Year

November shrimp imports were released today and show a slight decline (-0.6%) from last year to 148.306 million pounds. This is the first time since June that there was a decline, although the pace was smaller than expected.

Urner Barry Consulting Economist Angel Rubio forecast 140.631 million pounds for this month.

Of the top five trade partners, India (-15.5%) and Thailand (-4.5%) sent less to the United States. This continued to be on trend from last month. Indonesia (+12.2%), Ecuador...

Georgia Extends Shrimp Season into 2021

Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources announced Monday that the state will be extending the shrimp season into 2021.

Normally state law closes the shrimp fishery on December 31, however the Commissioner of Natural Resources is allowed to extend the season if data shows that shrimp are abundant and “likely to rebound the following year.”

“The data we collected in December indicates there is still a good number of large shrimp in state waters off Georgia’s beaches,” Eddie Leonard, a biologist with DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, explained...

NaturalShrimp Eyeing Puerto Rico Expansion

U.S.-based shrimp farmer NaturalShrimp and Ecoponex Systems International signed a letter of intent with Waste to Energy+ (WTE+) as the companies look to develop an organic shrimp farm in Puerto Rico.

The farm will use NaturalShrimp’s growing technology and will be funded by Ecoponex, in partnership with WTE+ under its recently signed joint venture agreement.

“The project is an example of the benefit of this recently formed JV, which is already starting to bear fruit,” said Gerald Easterling, NaturalShrimp CEO...