Japan: Salmon and Trout Imports in February Fell by 25%, Reflecting a Decrease in Coho

According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Japan’s total salmon and trout imports in February (including salted, smoked, and prepared products) were 22,137 tons, down 25% from the same month last year, and the CIF import value was 30,039 million yen ($211.25 million), down 10%. The quantity of fillets (fresh, frozen, salted, and dried) was down 7% to 6,491 tons, and those other than fillets were down 31% to 15,645 tons.

Minato Shimbun reported that the main factor behind the decrease in...

FDA Ends Two-Month Streak of No Entry Line Refusals for Antibiotic-Contaminated Shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released new data showing a total of 92 seafood entry line refusals in February 2025, and a total of four entry line refusals of shrimp (4.2%) for the presence of banned antibiotics, per product traces of veterinary drug residues.

Of the total 92 seafood entry line refusals during February, 26 entry lines were for shrimp imports unrelated to banned antibiotics.

This data follows marks the end of the FDA’s two-month consecutive streak where the federal agency reported...

Japan’s 2024 Alaska Pollock Exports Dipped in Most Countries While Doubling in Nigeria

Since 2019, 100% of fresh Alaska pollock exported from Japan has been destined for South Korea, while frozen pollock is targeted at Asian countries and parts of Africa due to the prolonged Chinese embargo. Still, due to resource constraints, it has not been possible to ensure a sufficient supply. Last year, the combined export volume was 5,868 tons, halved from the previous year, which marks the lowest it has been in recent years, reported Minato Shimbun.

Since 2019, fresh pollock has been destined exclusively for South Korea...

ANALYSIS: 2024 Frozen Tuna Fillet Imports Reach Second Highest Levels on Record

In 2024, total imports of frozen tuna fillets amounted to 95.11 million pounds, making it the second-highest import volume on record. The record was set in 2022 with 105.49 million pounds, while 2019 ranks third with imports totaling 90 million pounds.  Since 2007, tuna imports have been on an upward trajectory, tripling in volume. Throughout most of this period, Indonesia was the predominant exporter, consistently maintaining a lead over Vietnam...

Japan: Shrimp Imports Rose 8% in 2024, with Ecuador Imports Doubling and Argentina Imports up 40%

Japan's shrimp imports in 2024, including frozen and processed shrimp, reached 213,826 tons, an increase of 8% from the previous year and exceeding the lowest level since 2012. The increase is due to a doubling of frozen shrimp imports from Ecuador. Japan’s 2024 shrimp import value came in at 186.3 billion yen ($1.22 billion), reported Minato Shimbun.

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, frozen shrimp increased by 10%, amounting to 152,451 tons and a total value of 199.8 billion yen...

USITC Finds Imported Shrimp Harmful to U.S. Industry, Duties Imposed

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) determined that the U.S. shrimp industry was “materially injured” by imported shrimp that was sold at less than fair value or gained an advantage via subsidies.

The USITC affirmed the Department of Commerce (Commerce)’s determination that frozen warmwater shrimp from Indonesia was sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. It also affirmed Commerce's findings that imports of shrimp from Ecuador, India, and Vietnam were subsidized by the respective governments.

This decision paves the way for the Department of Commerce to issue...

U.S. Department of Commerce Found Vietnam Exporters Didn’t Dump Pangasius into U.S. Market

In its latest antidumping administrative review, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) determined that frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam were not sold at below-normal values.

According to the document posted on the Federal Register earlier this week, the DOC shared the preliminary results of its antidumping administrative review of certain fish fillets from Vietnam. The review was focused on the period of August 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023.

The notice published in the Federal Register indicated that the review covered eight exporters of...

Yokohama Reito Launches its Newest and Largest Cold Storage Facility in Vietnam

Yokohama Reito, also known as Yokorei Co., Ltd., a major refrigerated and frozen distribution company, has completed construction of the Vietnam Yokorei Ben Luc Logistics Center Main Facilities in Vietnam, according to the Minato Shimbun report and the company's recent press release.

The completion ceremony was held on March 3 and was attended by about 100 people including company officials, the Director General of the Long An Economic Zone Administration, the Chairman of Phu An Thanh Industrial Park, local business partners, and construction workers...

Texas Food Importer L&V Food Supply Recalls Over 1,150 Pounds of Dried Vietnamese Catfish

On February 25, 2025, C&T Produce Wholesale Inc. (doing business as L&V Food Supply) issued a recall for approximately 1,152 pounds of peppered frozen and dried catfish products imported from Vietnam into the U.S.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the fish products were produced by an establishment in Vietnam that is not eligible to export catfish to the U.S. As such, the products were not presented for import reinspection into the U.S...

Congressman Urges Trump to Crack Down on Seafood Imports from China, India, and Others 

US Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) wrote a letter to President Trump requesting tariffs be placed on seafood imports from China, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam, some of the country’s largest trading partners.

“Domestic shrimpers, fishermen, and crawfish producers in Louisiana and across the country face significant challenges competing against foreign seafood industries that are heavily subsidized and engage in illegal dumping into the United States,” Congressman Higgins wrote. “These unrighteous trade practices artificially drive down prices, disrupt fair market conditions, and threaten...

Willcom and Sanyo Foods to Fully Launch Oyster Business in Vietnam, Aiming a 100 MT Production

Willcom of Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, a seafood trading company that deals in oysters and other products and trade consultants, and Sanyo Foods of Shikokuchuo City, Ehime Prefecture, a frozen food manufacturer, have teamed up to fully launch Japan's first and only new business using frozen shucked oysters from Vietnam, according to Minato Shimbun. They will take advantage of Vietnam's supply system, which produces shucked oysters year-round, and the cost benefits of tariff-free shipping under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)...

DOC Issues Final Antidumping, CVD Rates for Shrimp Imports from Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Vietnam

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador and Indonesia and the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam

The International Trade Administration (ITA) provided a case calendar. With the final determination for the AD/CVD investigations wrapped up, the International Trade Commission is set to issue its final determination on December 5, 2024. An issuance of orders will occur the following week...