Shrimp Imports Continue at Record Pace, Up 15.7% in June Driven by Peeled Shrimp

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Paul Brown  August 9, 2017

Shrimp imports continue to be heavy and on a record pace for the year. Imports for the month of June compared to a year ago are 15.7% higher while YTD imports are up 8.4%.

Indian imports by far, lead the supply of shrimp and account for the increase. June imports from India are up 75.6% with YTD imports 58.8% higher.

Indonesian imports are 17.3% lower in June and down 3.6% YTD.

Ecuador, despite record production, shows ...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Salmon Fillets Adjust Lower Again; Supply Looks to be Increasing 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Urner Barry] Janice Schreiber - July 12, 2017

The Chilean salmon fillet market continued to trend lower yesterday. Supplies range fully adequate to ample in the spot market coupled with a seasonally lackluster demand period. Downward pricing pressure is being felt not only from other origins of farmed salmon (i.e. Canada and Europe) but also from the growing supply of wild salmon; especially sockeyes.

Additionally, market participants report that the volumes available out of Chile will continue ...

FDA Seafood Refusals Down Sharply in 2017 Rejections for Filth Slide 50%

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 5, 2017

Filth is still the top reason for the FDA’s seafood refusals in 2017 but the administration is refusing far less seafood this year compared to 2016 levels.

In May, the FDA’s seafood refusals were down 40 percent compared to the same time last year—a difference of about 70 line items.

Overall, the administration has refused 697 line items of seafood, which is down 27 percent from year-to-date figures in 2016...

So Far Louisiana's Shrimp Harvest is Made Up of Sizes Already in Good Supply

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 30, 2017

Louisiana’s wild shrimp season started about two weeks ago and traders say new season production is so far made up of shrimp that is already in good supply.

Shrimp harvest figures for May won’t be available for another month. In April landings were 5.3 million pounds, a number more than double the five-year-average for the month.

The harvest for the year is now at 13.2 million pounds, which is below the five-year-average for the fishery...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Exports at Record Levels in 2017 as Sales to Asia Dominate Market Share

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 22, 2017

Ecuadorian farmed shrimp production in 2017 is at record high levels and the country’s sales to the Asian market account for more than half of its output. This continues to cut into the US and EU market share for Ecuadorian shrimp.

According to an Urner Barry analysis of Ecuadorian shrimp exports, the country exported 282.6 million pounds to all major markets through April 2017. This is a record high figure, up 15 percent from the year prior, an increase of about 37 million pounds. It’s about a 140 million pound increase from just four years ago...

Surge in Atlantic Scallop Landings Sends Auction Prices and Wholesale Market into Tailspin

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 10, 2017

A surge in scallop landings in March has prices at auction falling faster and harder than expected. These factors have combined to drag down prices in the wholesale market in the first week of May.

In March, Atlantic scallop landings were reported at 3.75 million pounds. This is more than double the monthly figure from last March and is 51 percent higher from the five-year monthly average for the fishery. 

Higher landings have caused prices at auction to fall faster and more sharply than usual...

Newfoundland Price Panel Sets Cold-Water Shrimp Minimum Price at $0.95

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton - April 25, 2017

The Province of Newfoundland Price Setting Panel announced that the minimum cold-water shrimp price for spring 2017 will be $0.95 CA.

This is a significant change from the $CA 1.40 per lb awarded by the price panel last year. 

The panel is required to pick only one of two offers put forward by the FFAW and the Association of Seafood Producers...

European Whole Salmon Floods US and Cuts into Canada's Market Share

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 19, 2017

European salmon producers, beset with sea lice problems, appear to be harvesting fish early and flooding the US market with unusual amounts of smaller whole fish.

This has had an impact on Canadian producers, who normally dominate the whole fish market in the US.

Import data from the US Department of Commerce in February showed whole salmon imports from Europe about equal to shipments from Canada...

Seafood Refusals Down in Q1 But Shrimp, Mahi and Filth Still on FDA Radar

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 5, 2017

FDA seafood refusals in March were just about the same compared to last March as mahi, shrimp and filth remain on inspectors' radars. However, federal seafood rejections are well below levels recorded through the first quarter in 2016 because of notable declines in snapper, lobster and tuna refusals.

The FDA refused 209 line items of seafood in March, which was just one line item higher from last March. Like last year filth was the top reason for rejections and accounted for 35 percent of the month’s refusals...

Indian Shrimp Imports Up 40% in February, Offsetting Declines from Other US Suppliers 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 4, 2017

Indian shrimp imports are offsetting notable declines in shipments from other major US suppliers early on in 2017.

According to monthly shrimp import volumes US shipments in February dropped over 7 percent to 91.4 million pounds, which pushed imports for the year down about 2 percent to 204 million pounds.

Most major shrimp suppliers posted declines in shipments to the US market. Imports from Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam and China were all down significantly for the month...

Oregon Pink Shrimp Fishery Has Slow Start; Fishermen Want to Let Shrimp Grow

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Susan Chambers - April 3, 2017
A West Coast coldwater pink shrimp season is off to a less-than-stellar start.

Or more precisely, no start.

"I think I'm the only boat in Coos Bay (Oregon) ready to go," fisherman Nick Edwards said Friday.

The pink shrimp season in Washington, Oregon and California typically starts on April 1. But this year, many boats are still in port and many haven't even put shrimp nets on their vessels...

US Shrimp Consumption Poised to Take Off with Other Seafood Markets at Record High Prices

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh and Angel Rubio - March 27, 2017

Record high prices for many popular seafood items in the US market are likely to support more shrimp consumption in 2017 given the item's relatively stable price and a strong supply outlook.

During last week’s Seafood Expo North America in Boston many traders talked about record or near record high pricing for a variety of seafood items. A look at Urner Barry quotations high market prices for salmon, snow crab, king crab and mahi-mahi... 

Mahi Coming Off Menus With 2016/17 Season a Bust, US Inventories Limited and Market at Record Highs

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - March 8, 2017

Mahi is starting to come off of restaurant menus in the US this year since the 2016/17 fishing season in Central and South America was a bust, which has limited inventories in the US market, pushed frozen wholesale markets to record levels and sent fresh prices to abnormally high prices for this time of the year.

Weather and Climate conditions have pushed Mahi further offshore from Ecuador, and because of all the decomp refusals by the FDA, Ecuador boats have been reluctant to spend the time and money required to fish farther offshore as they are not confident they can maintain their product.

Mahi imports finished 2016 down 10 million pounds from the previous year. But the Central and South American fishing season generally runs from October to around March depending on lunar cycles. ..

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings Remain Below 5-Year Average in January

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - February 24, 2017

The first report of shrimp landings from the Gulf of Mexico in 2017 was released this week and continued to show harvest levels below the five-year-average for this fishery.

Landings in January were 3.4 million pounds. The figure was actually up a bit from last January but the figure was down over 5.6 percent from the five year for this month.

This is no different from how shrimp landings out of the Gulf trended throughout 2016. The shrimp catch from the five major producing states were consistently below the five-year-average for this fishery last year... 

Market Share for Norwegian Salmon Grows in US, Shrinks in EU as Buyers Plug Chilean Production Gap

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - February 7, 2017

The US market share for Norwegian salmon continues to grow even though output is down. These factors, with support from favorable exchange rates, have caused Norway’s salmon exports to European markets to shrink.

According to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council the total value of Norwegian salmon sales to overseas markets in January was US$640 million, a 25 percent increase over last year.

At the same time, Norway’s exported salmon volume was down to just over 70,000 metric tons. The decline in salmon shipments dragged Norway’s total seafood export volume down by 11 percent...

Booming Octopus Demand by Millennials in the US is Sending Prices Higher

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - January 27, 2017

Demand is high for octopus in the US and other major markets since its versatility in the kitchen has made it one of the emerging items in the seafood industry.  Like oysters, octopus has become very popular with millennials, and is increasingly found on small plate and tapas menus, as well as becoming mainstream as an appetizer.  One of the great things about octopus is that people who eat it like the fact it looks like a sea creature.

Mike Daniels, VP of Operations and Sales at Seaport, says "Octopus is used in the poke application and is popping up in poke bars in fine supermarkets , fast foods outlets etc across US and especially West Coast...

Farmed Salmon Prices Enter Summer Season Decline

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 16, 2017

Farmed salmon prices have been in decline since Memorial Day weekend with traders reporting quiet demand in the market with inventories well supplied.

This is a typical time of the year to see farmed salmon prices come down. Salmon starts to compete with other, more grill friendly protein options at the retail level. Buyers also begin to source wild-caught salmon from Alaska as those supplies come become readily available...

Indian Shrimp Imports to US Continue Blistering Pace Ahead of Peak Production Period

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - June 2, 2017

Shrimp imports from India are reaching the US at a blistering pace this year with the volume much higher than is typical for this time of the year.

The latest data showed monthly shipments up 80 percent in April and 43 percent for the year compared to 2016. In April, the US imported 30.5 million pounds of shrimp from India.  This pushed total US shrimp imports from the country to 110 million pounds for the year so far...

Oregon Pink Shrimp Volume Steady; Small Sizes Remain a Concern

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Susan Chambers - May 24, 2017

Coldwater pink shrimp is finally being landed on the West Coast -- but not without controversy.

Oregon processors budged little on their initial price offerings to their vessels, fishermen said, but competition from some Washington boats eventually led to Oregon shrimpers accepting ex-vessel prices lower than they had hoped -- prices more in line with 2004 and 2006 prices, they said.

Oregon shrimper Nick Edwards said fishermen started the 2016 season...

Slow Lobster Landings in Gulf of St. Lawrence Push up Prices for Mothers Day; Threaten Disruption

SEAFOODNEWS. COM  by John Sackton  May 11, 2017

Slow lobster landings in both PEI and New Brunswick have hit a wave of demand, pushing up competition at the wharf, and prices to harvesters.

Mother’s day is a very traditional peak lobster sales day in Atlantic Canada, but this year, prices are so high that a lobster meal can cost over $100. 

Denis Breau, a fish shop owner in Moncton, said “for us it is terrible.  The world finds it too expensive.  There are a lot of people who are not on board and not buying.”

Currently, prices on the wharf in New Brunswick are around $7.50 CA for market..

Indian Shrimp Imports to US Up 20 Million Pounds from 2016; Accounts for 25% of Q1 Volume

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - May 4, 2017

The volume of Indian shrimp imported into the US market in the first quarter of the year exceeded 2016 levels by about 20 million pounds. Indian shrimp now represents more than a quarter of all imported volumes in the US market this year.

According to shrimp import date from the US Department of Commerce, March imports increased 2.3 percent increase for the month. Overall imports are now down only 0.8 percent.

Indian imports continue on a tear with a 31.8 percent increase over last year and 32.7 percent increase through the first quarter...

Gulf Shrimp Landings in Q1 About Even with Last Year; Market Waits for New Season Production

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 25, 2017

Shrimp landings from the Gulf of Mexico through the first quarter of the year were about the same compared to the first three months of 2016. Wholesale prices continue to hold at higher levels as the industry waits for new season production to reach the market.

The domestic harvest totaled 3.4 million pounds in March, which was up slightly from February and down marginally from the catch last March...

Landings for the quarter were 10.1 million pounds, slightly below last year’s total through three months...

Vietnam Emerged as Major Market for Indian Shrimp Exports in 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 6, 2017

At the same time that India has become a major shrimp supplier to the US market, it has also stepped up exports to Vietnam with shipments in some months even surpassing those to the US market.

Last year Indian shrimp exports to Vietnamese and US markets increased 28 and 29 percent respectively and were the top two markets for Indian shippers.

India emerged as the US’s major shrimp supplier a few years ago...

Fresh Pacific Halibut Prices Up 10% as Poor Weather Slows Alaskan Production Ahead of Good Friday

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - April 5, 2017

Alaskan halibut production during the first month of the season is lower from last year because of inclement weather. Wholesale prices for Pacific halibut are moving higher because of more limited inventories and under expectations that demand could pick up ahead of Good Friday.

According to the National Marine Fisheries Service RAM Division, halibut landings out of Alaska through the first three fishing weeks in March topped 1.2 million pounds...

Newfoundland Snow Crab Quota Set at 35,419 Tons, 22% Less Than Last Year

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton April 3, 2017

The Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans has announced snow crab quotas for the fishing areas around Newfoundland.

The overall quota will decrease to 35,419 tons, compared to a quota of 43,802 tons in 2016. The DFO says this is a reduction of around 22%.

The major reduction by volume is in area 3L, where the TAC has gone down from 33,486 tons to 24,787 tons.

3K did not get cut significantly but accounts for 5,794 tons.

3Ps, where fishermen were having a hard time finding crab last year, was cut 50% to 1505 tons....

Gulf Shrimp Industry Anxiously Waiting for New Season Production With Supplies Tight, Market Strong

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - March 31, 2017

Monthly shrimp landings from the Gulf of Mexico in February were down from last month and from last year at this, which now has landing figures to start the year below 2016 levels.

The February shrimp haul reached 3.2 million pounds for the month. The number was 7 percent lower from January and 12 percent down from last February.

Traditionally, this is the slowest time of the year for shrimp production out of the Gulf. Meaningful production usually doesn’t reach the market until mid-May or June when the spring season starts...

High Global Demand for Argentine Red Shrimp Pinched Supplies, Raised Prices in 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - March 10, 2017

High demand for Argentine red shrimp in global markets last year pinched available inventories for buyers compared to the previous year and raised the cost to replace product in the US market in 2016.

From January to December last year, US import prices for peeled red shrimp imports from Argentina increased about $1.00 per pound. At the same time, US imports for the product more than doubled to nearly 10.5 million pounds...

Shrimp Imports from India and Indonesia Continue Higher in January; Buoy 2.2% YTD Increase 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh and Paul Brown - March 7, 2017

The first round of monthly shrimp imports figures of 2017 showed continued strength in shipments from India and Indonesia.

As of January, total US shrimp imports were up 2.2 percent to 112.3 million pounds; roughly a 2.5 million pound bump compared to this time last year.

Indian shrimp imports continue to fuel the US market with shipments up 28.1 percent to 29.9 million pounds...

Surge in Indian Shrimp Shipments Drives US Imports to All-Time Record 1.33 Billion Lbs in 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - February 7, 2017

FDA's Monthly Seafood Rejections Down 30% from Last January with Filth Still Leading Cause

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - February 6, 2017

The year’s first round of seafood refusal data from the FDA showed a decline in the volume of rejections while filth is still on the Administration’s radar.

FDA refusals in January reached 145 line items for the month. It’s a 30 percent decline in monthly rejections compared to last January.

Filth accounted for the bulk of the month’s rejection, responsible for 40 percent of January’s refusals. However, this figure was down compared to the 70 percent last January’s seafood rejections the FDA flagged on account of filth...