Japan: Surimi Imports Turned Upwards by 0.9% in September, Jumps for First Time in Four Months

Kamaboko News reported that the Ministry of Finance recently announced that imported surimi for September 2023 was 19,586 tons, a slight increase of 0.9% from the previous year, marking the first positive increase in four months. 

Shipments from the United States totaled 11,738 tons, an increase of 5.2% from the previous year. Imports from India and Indonesia are noticeable, up 2.7 times to 2,437 tons and up 24.7% to 121 tons, respectively. There was a decrease from Vietnam down by 43.0% to 819 tons...

Chinese Processors Consider Processing Japanese Scallops in Thailand for Re-exporting

According to a report in the Suisan Keizai Shimbun, Chinese scallop processors are starting to try to receive whole scallops from Japan in third countries. 

Recently, Chinese processors have been importing 80,000 to 90,000 tons of frozen scallops from the Okhotsk Sea and Funka Bay in Japan annually. In China, processors have thawed the shellfish, shucked adductor muscles, and added water to export to Europe and America. 

However, in late August of this year, this procurement route was disrupted due to the Chinese government's suspension of imports of Japanese...

Norway Sees ‘Good Demand’ for Salmon in July, Prices Jump for Multiple Species

The Norwegian Seafood Council shared that year-on-year seafood exports through July 2023 have jumped by NOK 13 billion ($1.3 billion), or 16%. For July, export value jumped by 8% compared to the previous year, with the country seeing price increases for its fresh salmon fillets, cod clipfish and frozen whole mackerel.

Despite the value increases, which Christian Chramer, Managing Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, credited mainly to the weak Norwegian krone, the country exported less cod, saithe and herring than in July 2022...

‘Not Positive’: Norwegian Seafood Exports Down 5% in First Half of 2023

The Norwegian Seafood Council reported that seafood exports from Norway were down 5% through the first half of the year, a 75,000 metric ton decrease.

In total, the country exported 1.3 million MT of seafood and the Council cited export volume drops in herring, cod and salmon. The dip in volume was credited to challenging fishing conditions, reduced quotas and somewhat lower salmon production volume.

“The export figures emphasize that seafood from Norway is a sought-after product around the world...

Norway Sees Export Volumes Drop Across Species in May as Food Inflation Remains a Headache

The Norwegian Seafood Council shared that export volumes for cod, herring, trout, pollock, salmon and snow crab dropped in the month of May.

Plus, the export value of Norwegian seafood reached its lowest point if measured in Euros, rather than the Norwegian kroner, which Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council said changed the picture completely.

“As in April, we also see a significant currency effect in May. The weak Norwegian krone alone contributed to an increase in export value of...

U.S. Shrimp Import Decline Continues for 9th Straight Month

The trend has continued for U.S. shrimp imports. According to data released today by U.S. Census, shrimp imports have declined for the ninth straight month.

March 2023 imports fell by 23.2% compared to the previous year, and imports sit 18.3% lower year-to-date (YTD). Imports for the month reached 129.5 million pounds, down 39 million pounds from March 2022’s 168.5-million-pound mark. Through the first quarter of the year, shrimp imports have dropped by 89.3 million pounds.

As Urner Barry market reporter Jim Kenny pointed out...

Russia Actively Increases Fish Exports to Africa

Russia continues active exports of its fish and fish products this year despite the ongoing sanctions’ pressure, expanding its sales markets.

According to official statistics, this year's exports of Russian fish products remain at last year's level and amounted to 1.4 million tons in seven months. About half of this volume accounted for China, while Russia's top 5 largest sales markets also include South Korea, the Netherlands, Japan and Germany. For the first time, Russia began moving its pollock and herring supplies to African countries, including Niger, which has become widely known...

Chilean Salmon Industry Sets Target on India Following Export Agreement

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) announced that India has reduced tariff rates on Chilean seafood products, including salmon.

Loreto Seguel, the executive director of the Salmon Council, which consists of salmon farmers AquaChile, Australis, Cermaq, Mowi and Salmones Aysén, said this agreement was key for the salmon industry.

“This milestone opens up new perspectives for the Chilean salmon industry by expanding its geographical reach and accessing a market with great growth potential, which is positive for a productive activity that is highly relevant for the...

Chilean Salmon Exports Drops Slightly in Q1, Totals Still Below 2020 Volumes

The Chilean Salmon Council (CDS) shared findings from its Q1 2023 report that breaks down export totals of Chilean salmon and trout.

CDS consists of key salmon farmers AquaChile, Australis, Cermaq, Mowi and Salmones Aysén, which together represent just over 50% of salmon production in the country.

The report found that salmon and trout exports reached 203,521 tons, a 1% drop compared to the same period in 2022. Meanwhile, the export value jumped by 4.4% to $1,764 million...

Florida Lobster Company, President Sentences for Exporting Falsely Labeled Lobster

Aifa Seafood, a Florida seafood company, and its president, Jiu Fa Chen, 57, of Parkland, were sentenced after pleading guilty to exporting falsely-labeled spiny lobster from Florida to China.

From May through August 2019, Aifa purchased seafood products destined for export to China. In order to meet the demand for spiny lobster, Aifa imported lobster from Haiti to reexport to China. The company reexported 5,900 pounds of lobster and fasely labeled that lobster as “Live Florida Spiny Lobsters, Product of U.S.A...