Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #6

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 #6."

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...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #5

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 #5."

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...

ANALYSIS: The Quantifiable Impact of Tariffs; Evidence from the Seafood Market

With tariffs on Chinese tilapia now exceeding 200%, the seafood market faces unprecedented disruption that will fundamentally reshape pricing structures, consumption patterns, and global supply chains. Our empirical analysis quantifies these effects, showing the severity of market distortions that result from such extreme trade barriers...

Today’s Top Story: BioMar Costa Rica Obtains Country's First ASC Feed Certification

In our top story today, BioMar’s Costa Rica production facility recently obtained an ASC Feed Certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), marking the first certification of its kind for the Central American country. The facility is located in the city of Cañas in Guanacaste Province and produces feed for shrimp and tilapia, as well as a variety of marine species. The feed produced supplies fish farmers across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean...

SENA 2025: Expana Analysts Break Down Forecasting and Algo-Forecasting in the Seafood Market

On March 16, the second day of the Seafood Expo North America (SENA), Expana’s own Angel Rubio and Andrei Rjedkin presented on the Price Reporting Agency’s (PRA) unique price forecasting methods in today’s dynamic, and at times volatile, seafood market.

Rubio, who is an economist and lead analyst at Urner Barry by Expana, kicked off the presentation by diving into the methodology behind forecasting, showing a world map depicting the global seafood trade, which was borrowed from Rabobank.

He explained how seafood is the world’s most...

Seafood Industry Veteran Guy Lott Joins Bama Sea Products as Chief Commercial Officer

Bama Sea Products, a Florida-based seafood processor and distributor, announced that seafood industry veteran Guy Lott has been named Chief Commercial Officer.

The company, which produces wild-caught shrimp and other raw and value-added seafood products, highlighted how Lott’s experience with multi-unit restaurant chains, key retailers and fine-dining establishments will help the company’s sales strategy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Guy aboard to lead our sales efforts,” said Michael Stephens, CEO of Bama Sea Products. “We pride ourselves on having some...

Alaska House Leaders Oppose Governor’s Plan to Allow Fish Farms, Dunleavy Responds in Video

The debate over whether to lift a 35-year ban on fish farms in Alaska continued yesterday. On Friday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy proposed HB111, which would keep the ban on salmon farming but allow Alaskans to raise other finfish, in closed water systems, potentially for sale. 

Yesterday, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, issued a written statement after reading the bill.

“Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, our coastal communities, and fishing families across the state are suffering through historically...

Regal Springs’ Sustainability Alliance with Honduran Government Benefits Local Communities

Honduran tilapia producer Regal Springs Honduras, also known as Aquafinca St. Peter Fish, recently renewed its strategic alliance with the Government of the Republic of Honduras and the national electric company Empresa Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ENEE).

Once again, the entities will work team up to facilitate local sustainability and protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within Honduras.

A major aspect of the partnership is collaborating to strengthen key operations in the country’s hydroelectric dam El Cajón, which is the fifth largest dam in the Americas and situated in Lake El Cajón...

Today's Top Story: Washington Recalls Oysters and Manila Clams Due to Potential Norovirus Contamination

In our top story, the state of Washington has recalled oyster and Manila clams from Rudy’s Shellfish due to a potential norovirus outbreak. In response to this, the FDA has issued an advisory to restaurants, retailers, and consumers so that they avoid, discard, and sanitize against the products in question...

Trump Tariffs Loom for US Seafood Imports

The re-election of Donald Trump as US president on November 5 has sparked speculation among industry players about the outlook for the global trade environment. Trump has stated that he will implement a stringent import tariff regime, with a particular focus on products from China. He has proposed a blanket tariff of 10% for all imports to the US and a 60% tariff for Chinese goods.

Once tariffs are eventually implemented, importers of agri-food commodities may feel an impact. According to Angel Rubio, lead analyst at...

Brazilian Fish Targets Doubling of Tilapia Output

Brazilian Fish, part of the Ambar Amaral Group, in an interview with local media outlet Agfeed noted R$ 100 million in investments over the past 24 months to expand its tilapia production and bring new products to market.

The São Paulo-based company currently processes approximately 60 tonnes per day of tilapia across its two facilities and aims to reach 100 tonnes per day by February 2024 according to Agfeed. Approximately 80% of the production comes from the company’s own facilities, with the remaining volume sourced from four integrated producers...

The United States Removes Health Certificate Requirement for Brazilian Fish Exports

The United States has officially lifted the requirement for International Health Certificates (IHCs) on fish imports from Brazil, reducing bureaucracy for Brazilian exporters and potentially increasing their market competitiveness in the U.S.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) announced this regulatory change on 23 October. Carlos Fávaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, stated that this decision “will streamline the export process while maintaining oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

The timing of IHC issuance has been a key concern among industry stakeholders, impacting delivery schedules...

Total Familiarity of Wild Alaska Pollock Hits the Highest Recorded Since Tracking Began

Total familiarity with Wild Alaska Pollock increased by an astounding 6 percentage points since tracking consumer familiarity began in 2019, said data experts from Ketchum Analytics at the Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting this morning in Seattle. During the sixth industry annual meeting, hosted by the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP), data experts Melissa Kinch and Lauren Hasse of Ketchum noted that, in looking at other white fish as a benchmark for performance, Wild Alaska Pollock last year, for the first time...

ANALYSIS: A Look at the Market Landscape for Frozen Tilapia out of China Post Typhoon 

The aquaculture complex out of Asia which includes Chinese Catfish, Pangasius, and frozen Tilapia out of China is becoming an area to potentially watch closely for changes that may occur over the next several weeks and months.

Ryan Doyle, Editor with Expana reported earlier this month, Super Typhoon Yagi swept through parts of southeastern regions of China, including tilapia production hubs of Hainan and Guangdong. This created question marks around production capabilities as the region recovers following...

ANALYSIS: Pangasius Imports Outweigh Tilapia

With U.S. import data reporting through June 2024, the first half of the year has recorded panagius outweighing tilapia in frozen fillet import volumes into the country. Historically tilapia largely outweighs pangasius, however, this trend reversal has become a more common occurrence as 2021 and 2022 also marked higher pangasius volumes for the same timeframe.

Contributing to the supply constraints on tilapia this year was a shortage of raw materials driven by unusual weather events that can increase mortality rates for smaller fish. Major producing areas of...

Today’s Top Story: NOAA Fisheries Reopens Scallop Fishing in Northern Gulf of Maine with Increased Quota

In our top story today, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) has officially reopened scallop fishing in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) while also increasing the 2025 fishing quota to 675,563 pounds, as indicated in the recently finalized Framework 39. Both updates are effective today, April 21. Among Framework 39’s updates are various modifications to other access areas...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #5

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 #5."

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...

BioMar Costa Rica Obtains Country's First ASC Feed Certification 

BioMar’s production facility in Costa Rica recently obtained an ASC Feed Certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), marking the first certification of its kind for the Central American country.

The facility is located in the city of Cañas in Guanacaste Province and produces feed for shrimp and tilapia, as well as a variety of marine species. The feed produced supplies fish farmers across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The ASC Feed Standard requires facilities to meet a variety of criteria including meeting ASC standards of social and labor...

SENA 2025: Lineage Logistics Addresses Food Waste, Tariffs, and FSMA Rule 204

During the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2025, Expana had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Bowman and Ron Margulis of Lineage Logistics and chat about the cold storage company’s ongoing efforts to streamline processes, increase traceability, and eliminate food waste, especially as the global supply chain faces U.S. tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, as well as the upcoming implementation of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204.

When asked about the economic turbulence that has been impacting the supply chain lately, Bowman, who is Vice...

The Winding Glass: Seafood Consumption in Crossfire as Global Tariff War Erupts

The biggest loser in the global tariff wars that have erupted in seafood will be American consumers, importers, processors and distributors.

This week Pres. Trump unilaterally imposed 25% tariffs on all Canadian seafood.  This covers almost all the snow crab, 55% of domestic live lobster, and about 50% of whole farmed Atlantic salmon consumed in the US.

In response to US pressure on Canada to follow its tariff war with China, the Canadians imposed higher tariffs on some Chinese products last fall...

Ecuador and Mexico Clash Over Shrimp Trade and Tariff Disputes

On Monday, February 3, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared that Ecuador would be applying a 27% tariff on all Mexican goods in order to promote fair treatment of Ecuadorian companies.

At a press conference the following day, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded, saying that Mexican exports into Ecuador account for only 0.4% of Mexico’s overall foreign exports, implying that the proposed tariffs will not have a significant impact on the Central America country.

José Antonio Camposano, executive president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador, then replied via...

Cargill and Mowi Feed Sites in Scotland and Norway Achieve ASC Certification

Mowi Feed and Cargill Canada recently received Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifications for their respective feed operations in Scotland and Norway.

The ASC Farm Standard certification program lays out a set of aquafeed production regulations, focusing on areas like social and labor rights, health and safety, environmental stewardship, and responsible sourcing of raw materials.

According to the ASC, the program aligns with the European Union’s upcoming supply chain regulations and encompasses all major agriculture crops, including wheat, corn, canola, soy, palm oil, and marine ingredients...

The Retail Rundown: Weekly Protein Recap; CPI Update

Seafood leads protein advertising for a third consecutive week, accounting for nearly 31% of total ad space. Pork follows with nearly 23% and beef makes up 21%. Chicken represents 19% of the advertising share, while eggs capture less than 1%.

The seafood category shows mixed price trends year-over-year (YOY), with fresh cod fillets discounted to $8.37 per pound last week—down 53 cents from the previous year. Prices for catfish and tilapia remained steady YOY, each averaging about $6.60 discounted...

The Retail Rundown: Robust Retail Spending This Holiday Season

Retail spending has been robust this year, with recent data released by the U.S. Census Bureau indicating strong retail sales as the holiday season kicked off in November.

According to the Census Bureau, overall retail sales in November rose 0.7 percent month-over-month (MOM) and increased 3.8 percent year-over-year (YOY) In comparison, October saw gains of 0.5 percent MOM and 2.9 percent YOY.

“Job and wage gains, modest inflation and a heathy balance sheet have led to solid holiday spending," said National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz...

A Look at the Top 10 Most Consumed Seafood Items in 2022

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) debuted its annual Top 10 List of the most consumed seafood in 2022. NFI’s list comes shortly after NOAA Fisheries unveiled its Fisheries of the U.S. 2022 Report, which saw Americans consume roughly 19.7 pounds of seafood, a slight downturn from the 20.5 pounds seen in 2021.

Shrimp topped the Top 10 List once again despite a minor decrease in consumption. Salmon finished in second place, and it also witnessed a slight drop in consumption. In third place was canned tuna, which saw...

The Winding Glass: What’s in Store for U.S. Fisheries After the Election?

The US government and the seafood industry are deeply intertwined.  Since the outcome of Tuesday’s election is unknown the industry is facing significant uncertainties about regulatory policies and trade dynamics.

I want to call out a few areas where monumental changes may occur, depending on which candidate wins.

Of course, the seafood industry exists within the larger macro-economic environment, and things like consumer confidence, real wages, inflation, and cost of competing proteins all impact demand for seafood....

UK’s Seafish: Signs of Recovery in Trade, Consumer Confidence After Five Tough Years

Marcus Coleman, CEO of Seafish told industry leaders at the ongoing annual Responsible Seafood Summit that after five years of global challenges to the seafood industry, a turnaround may be happening this year. 

Coleman spoke yesterday to an audience of about 400 at St. Andrews, Scotland, saying that indications over the last ten months show consumer confidence is beginning to return with recorded export value growth at 7.9% on the previous 12 months.

Seafood imports remain steady with salmon and cheaper whitefish alternatives to cod such as ... 

Seafoodnews.com Summary Monday, September 23

ANALYSIS: Pangasius Imports Outweigh Tilapia

U.S. import data through June 2024 shows panagius outweighing tilapia in frozen fillet import volumes into the country. While tilapia historically outweighs pangasius, this trend reversal has become a more common occurrence as 2021 and 2022 also marked higher pangasius volumes for the same timeframe...