ANALYSIS: Robust EU-UK Shrimp Imports in H1 2025 Signal Market Shifts

The European Union has just released its latest trade volume data for June 2025, revealing that total shrimp imports in the EU-UK region remain well above the five-year historical averages, reaching 60,950 metric tons in June. Although this represents a 4.9% decrease compared to May, it marks a notable 13.0% increase year-over-year. This figure is 19.7% higher than the five-year average for the month of June. The decline in June follows a typical seasonal pattern...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers See Early Back-to-School Spending Amid Price Concerns

While some students are already back in class, others are squeezing in the last stretch of summer before Labor Day. Either way, grocers are bracing for busy aisles as parents juggle back-to-school supplies and grocery lists. This week’s ads highlight plenty of lunchbox staples, including snacks and deli items. 

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that two-thirds of shoppers had already begun back-to-school purchases by early July, with more than half starting earlier than last year. Concerns about higher prices linked to tariffs...

California Wildlife Officers Cite Four for Poaching 236 Spiny Lobsters

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers cited four individuals who were caught fishing for spiny lobster illegally during the closed season on August 1.

The CDFW said officers were on a patrol around 11 p.m. when they saw lights and activity near Royal Palms Beach in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The officers then saw four individuals in wetsuits and diving gear taking spiny lobsters and returning to shore throughout the night. The CDFW noted that both the recreational and commercial spiny...

Seasonally Record-High Volumes and Revenues for Mowi in Q2

Mowi generated operating revenues of EUR 1.39 billion in the second quarter which translated into an operational profit of EUR 189 million.

The second quarter of 2025 ended with record-high revenues for Mowi, on strong biological and operational performance, all-time high volumes and decreasing cost.

“2025 has so far been a good year for the Farming division with very good operations and strong growth,” said Mowi CEO, Ivan Vindheim.

Mowi harvested a record 133,000 tonnes in the second quarter, representing growth of 21% compared with last year.

Southern Shrimp Alliance Names Blake Price as Deputy Director to Boost Industry Advocacy

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) named Blake Price as its new Deputy Director, a newly created position, on August 16.

The SSA, a group representing the Gulf shrimp industry, said the new leadership structure is aimed at improving communication with shrimpers, strengthening partnerships with other groups and adding a new full-time advocate for the US shrimp industry.

“The new role allows for significantly more visits to the docks and community meetings,” the SSA explained. “We aim to ensure your voices are heard when decisions are made...

FDA Issues Advisory on BMS Foods Shrimp Sold at Walmart Over Cs-137 Detection

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public advisory warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve frozen shrimp imported by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) that is sold at Walmart locations nationwide.

The advisory follows a recent FDA import alert placing several BMS Foods products on the agency’s Red List due to concerns over radioactive contamination, as Expana first reported on August 15.

As of August 19, the FDA said no product that tested positive or alerted...

Change of CEOs at Nutreco and Skretting

Nutreco announced today that CEO David Blakemore will step down from his role on September 1, 2025, and will be succeeded by Bastiaan van Tilburg, who has been CEO of Skretting since June 2024.

Van Tilburg’s other internal roles at Nutreco have included general manager of Trouw Nutrition Benelux, Scandinavia and France, and Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia. Before joining Nutreco, van Tilburg held commercial and operational leadership positions at SHV subsidiary Makro in Brazil and spent four years at Royal Dutch Shell...

UNFI Warehouse Workers Win Big with New Teamsters Contract

More than 300 warehouse workers at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) have ratified a new five-year contract.

The new agreement was overwhelmingly supported by workers and includes wage increases of up to $8 per hour, along with Teamsters health care coverage and participation in the Teamsters Western Conference Pension Plan.

"This contract is exactly why we joined the Teamsters," said Charles Dowling, a warehouse worker and member of Local 79. "We fought hard for the pay, benefits, and protections we...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #22

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 #22."

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.

...

The timeline for tariff negotiations between the US and China trade teams has been extended for another 90 days—moving the deadline to November 10, according to a White House fact sheet...

Lerøy Seafood Group Maintains Harvest Guidance After ‘Solid’ Q2 Performance

Norway-based Leroy Seafood Group (LSG) said it delivered “solid operations” across all its business segments in its second fiscal quarter of 2025, which resulted in an EBIT of NOK 680 million ($66 million).

“The quarter clearly illustrates the robustness of our business model with a fully integrated value chain in a diversified seafood company," said CEO of Lerøy Seafood Group ASA Henning Beltestad.

The company’s farming segment wrapped Q2 with a NOK 256 million operational EBIT. LSG said it had strong biological...

Hokkaido Scallop Landings in Okhotsk Down 10%, Pushing Prices to Unusual Highs

This season's scallop harvest off Hokkaido's Okhotsk coast has passed the halfway point. Preliminary figures for the end of July indicate a 9% year-on-year decrease of 145,300 tons, achieving 54% of the projected total. The initial projection was 267,900 tons, a 12% decrease from the previous season's actual results. Still, due to poor growth, rough seas, delays in landings caused by heat countermeasures, and mass mortality in some near-shore fishing grounds, some fishing cooperatives have revised their targets downward or are forecasting that...

Louisiana Agents Seize Drugs, Weapons and 1,813 Pounds of Shrimp During Vessel Inspection

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) arrested one individual for alleged drug and firearm violations, with another cited for alleged shrimping violations on August 15 in Iberia Parish.

Rendal D. Jennies Jr., 42, of Houma, was arrested for possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, possession or dealing in unregistered/illegally transferred weapons, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in the presence of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance. He was eventually booked into the parish jail...

St. James Smokehouse Unveils SAINT Fruit Wood Limoncello Smoked Salmon

Perfect for summer soirées, seafood spreads, and breezy brunches, St. James Smokehouse is serving up sunshine on a plate with the launch of its newest seasonal stunner: SAINT® Fruit Wood Limoncello Smoked Salmon — now available exclusively at Eataly locations nationwide.

Zesty, bright, and effortlessly luxe, this small-batch seasonal release is a citrus-infused twist on tradition. Crafted with the same artisanal care that’s made St. James Smokehouse a favorite among food lovers and chefs alike, each fillet is gently infused with small-batch...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster Market Outlook, Navigating Supply Constraints and Demand Uncertainty

 As the summer’s peak demand period winds down, the live lobster market faces an unexpected dynamic. Maine’s landings have been slow to gain momentum, resulting in supply that is tighter than anticipated. At the same time, both domestic and international demand have remained subdued. The absence of strong buyer interest—despite limited availability—has prompted market participants to question whether elevated price points, broader economic pressures, or shifting consumption patterns are dampening demand, a sharp departure from the robust activity typically seen during the height...

Joel Kawahara, West Coast Fisherman and Salmon Advocate, Lost at Sea

Early Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the salmon troller F/V Karolee 60 miles southeast of Eureka, CA and confirmed that no one was aboard. That ended the search for Captain Joel Kawahara, 70, whose last contact was with a friend Friday morning August 8, from the fishing grounds 30 miles or so west of Neah Bay, WA.

Concern among family and friends began growing on Sunday, August 10, after a weekend of no contact. Kawahara had texted a friend...

Corbion, KAS Collaborate to Scale Non-GMO Algal Astaxanthin

Corbion has entered a partnership with US biotech firm Kuehnle AgroSystems (KAS) to develop and commercialize natural astaxanthin derived from non-GMO heterotrophic algae.

The collaboration aims to offer a scalable, natural alternative to chemically synthesized or phototrophically derived astaxanthin currently dominating the market, the companies said.

Astaxanthin, a red-orange carotenoid pigment known for its antioxidant properties, occurs naturally in microalgae, salmon, and shrimp. It is used in nutraceuticals and in aquaculture diets, particularly in salmon farming.

The partnership will focus on producing the natural astaxanthin

ANALYSIS: Octopus Market Under Pressure from Decreased Supply and Tariff Headwinds

The U.S. octopus market has maintained a firm undertone across all major origins through most of 2025, with no significant relief in sight. Spanish octopus, in particular, remains under pronounced supply pressure, and market sources suggest that any real improvement in availability or pricing is unlikely before late 2025 or beyond.

U.S. Census import data for January through June highlights the ongoing constraints. While Spanish octopus imports saw a modest year-over-year increase of 1.8% in January, volumes have steadily declined since, with the largest drops recorded in...