ANALYSIS: March U.S. Shrimp Imports Move Higher

In data released today, U.S. shrimp imports continued to move higher year-over-year behind a significant surge from the top two trade partners. Total March imports were 139.489 million pounds, compared to 129.469 million pounds in 2023. India (+24.6%), Ecuador (+24.6%), and Vietnam (+39.0%) all gained. These positive numbers shifted year-to-date figures to the upside for those three countries as well. Indonesia (-30.0%) and Thailand (-25.7%) shipped less rounding out the top five.  Mexico (-31.8%) and Argentina (-28.8%), while shipping less, were...

ANALYSIS: Countervailing Duties Reduction Would Have Significant Impact on Payments

As reported by SeafoodNews Managing Editor, Amanda Buckle, Jose Antonio Camposano, Executive President of Industry Association Camara Nacional de Acuacultura confirmed the yet unpublished report that Santa Priscila’s subsidy rate has been lowered.

To put this in perspective, here is a preliminary analysis of money that would be posted based upon data from 2023 imports. The red lines in the graph are estimated payments against last year’s total imports by company based upon the average price paid. The total paid would...

Import Ban on Russian Seafood Into U.S. Receives Extension To May

In the final days of 2023, President Joseph R. Biden signed an Executive Order on “taking additional steps with respect to the Russian Federation’s harmful actions.” The U.S. had already banned imports of Russian seafood, but the latest Executive Order closed a loophole that allowed Russian-caught seafood, processed in China, to enter the country. The government gave U.S. importers a deadline of February 21 to bring in any Russian-origin seafood that was already under contract or written agreement prior to December 22...

Texas Rep Introduces Bill Pushing for Increased FDA Testing of Imported Shrimp

U.S. Representative Randy Weber (TX-14) co-sponsored the Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp (LESS) Act, which would boost the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s ability to test imported shrimp as it enters the country.

The bill would help ensure the FDA can test that imported shrimp is “free of antibiotic residues, up to our health standards, and is not the product of illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing by the People's Republic of China.”

The bill also provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with resources...

Import Volumes to Sit Below 2022 for the Majority of the Year

The Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates showed import cargo volume at major U.S. ports rising from three-year lows in February.

Despite the uptick in imports, the report expects import volumes to remain well below 2022 levels heading into the fall.

“Consumers are still spending and retail sales are expected to increase this year, but we’re not seeing the explosive demand we saw the past two years,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Congestion at the ports has largely 

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Frozen Siluriformes Products Imported from China

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ineligible frozen siluriformes products imported from the People’s Republic of China. The alert covers 12 ounce plastic packages containing Frozen Striped Pangasius Maws. FSIS says these products were illegally imported from China to retail and wholesale locations in New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. 

Raw Siluriformes fish products from China can only be eligible for import into the United States if the raw materials originate from a certified...

Japan: September Salmon Imports 14,934 Tons Worth JPY 20.1 Billion, Down 4.4% and 9.0%

According to the Ministry of Finance's customs statistics, imports of salmon and trout continued to decline in September. Still, the rate of decline improved significantly as imports of Chilean coho and sockeye picked up. The overall import result was 14,934 tons and 20,128.61 million yen ($134.39 million), a decrease of 4.4% in quantity and 9.0% in value compared to the same month from the previous year. The Suisan Keizai Shimbun reports that the price decline was more significant than the decline in quantity...

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...

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...