ANALYSIS: China’s H1 Shrimp Imports Drop for Second Year Amid Economic Headwinds

During the first half of the year, China’s shrimp import volumes declined for the second consecutive year. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), shrimp imports in H1 2025 totaled 469,596 metric tons, representing a 2.8% year-over-year decrease. This follows a more significant 11.3% drop recorded in H1 2024. The decline may partly reflect inventory adjustments following the post-COVID demand peak in 2023. However, several additional factors are influencing the market this year...

ANALYSIS: Tariff Pressures Threaten Stability in the Yellowfin Tuna Market

Recent tariff negotiations between the US and two of the leading yellowfin tuna-exporting nations—Vietnam and Indonesia—are significantly reshaping expectations for the frozen tuna market. Together, the two countries supply approximately 75–80% of US tuna imports, making any changes to trade policy especially impactful for importers and buyers. The next largest supplier, Thailand, represents just 6% of the market—a distant third that underscores the dominance of Vietnam and Indonesia. However, Thailand now faces added pressure, as a 36% tariff...

EU to Push for Global Eel Restrictions Ahead of Winter COP; Japan's Fisheries Agency Vows Opposition

It has been learned that the European Union (EU) has decided to propose listing all species of the genus Anguilla, including the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica), under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). According to Japanese government officials, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, held on June 23 and 24, resolved to submit this proposal.

The Japan Fisheries Agency emphasized, "We will make every effort to engage...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #18

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 #18."

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 big news this week also contains spillover from last week... It started on July 7, when US President Trump began sending letters to trading partners—assigning tariff rates...

ANALYSIS: EU-UK Shrimp Imports Hit Record High in May 2025

The European Union has released its latest trade data for May 2025, showing that total shrimp imports in the EU-UK region reached 63,869 metric tons—a figure that remains well above the five-year average. This represents a 19.1% increase over April and a 9.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth. While the seasonal boost in demand ahead of summer and holiday-driven consumption explains part of the surge, this volume marks a 10-year record high, it stands 27.5% above the 5-year average for...

Bristol Bay’s Sockeye Fishery Receives Federal Support in Pebble Mine Lawsuits While Decision Pends

In a July 17 press release from Alaskan eco-initiative SalmonState, fishermen, community leaders, and local businesses in the state’s Bristol Bay region applauded the Trump administration’s support for the wild sockeye fishery in its ongoing battle against the Pebble Mine project.

According to SalmonState, the Trump Administration has agreed to stand by a decision to stop the toxic Pebble Mine from being built in the headwaters of Bristol Bay's two most important rivers. 

The Vancouver-based company behind the proposed mine is Northern Dynasty, Canadian parent...

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Funding to Boost Maine’s Lobster Industry  

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced funding to support Maine’s lobster industry, as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the committee, announced the approval on Monday. 

The bill allocates funding across several areas, including 

- $30 million to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for research and monitoring related to North Atlantic right whales. 

- $80 million for the National Sea Grant Program, which in Maine supports sustainable fisheries, working waterfronts, and...

Albertsons Recalls Tuna Salad Products in Four States Over Listeria Concerns

Major US retailer Albertsons announced that it has recalled various tuna salad products sold in outlets in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

According to local media outlets, including KPLC, the recall involves items supplied by Reser’s Fine Foods. The recall stems from possible listeria monocytogenes contaminations through breadcrumbs used as an ingredient in the tuna salad products.

The impacted products were sold at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb locations. As of July 18, no illnesses have been reported. Find the full list of impacted products...

Iceland Seafood International Subsidiary Acquires Two Argentine Freezer Trawlers for $5.8 Million

Iceland Seafood International hf. (ISI) recently announced that THORPESCA S.A.S., the newly established Argentinian subsidiary of ISI’s branch Iceland Seafood Ibérica, acquired two freezer fishing vessels from FOOD ARTS S.A., along with their respective fishing permits and historical fishing rights, for USD $5.8 million.  

The vessels, ENTRENA UNO and ENTRENA DOS, currently operate in Argentina, as does Iceland Seafood Ibérica through its subsidiary, seafood processing and trading company Achernar, which Iceland Seafood Ibérica acquired in 2017.

Once under ISI’s umbrella, Achernar underwent substantial investment and modernization...

Russian Fishery Company Announces Top Leadership Change as CEO Karpushin Moves to Chairman

Russian Fishery Company (RRPK) announced a leadership transition that will see the company’s CEO Saveliy Karpushin become Chairman of the Board.

The shakeup at the top of the Russian fishing giant will also see Konstantin Globenko, who previously held the position of Operations Director, become CEO.

"The main priorities of the Russian Fishing Company remain the development of consumption of healthy, high-quality products from pollock on the Russian and international markets, the renewal of the fishing fleet and the improvement of working conditions for fishermen...

ASMI Partners with Whole Foods for Trip to Bristol Bay 

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), in collaboration with Whole Foods, and the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), recently hosted a trip to Bristol Bay, Alaska.   

Both seafood and marketing leaders with Whole Foods attended the five-day trip, which offered a look into the harvesting and processing sides of wild Alaska sockeye salmon. They toured drift gillnet and set net fishing sites, visited processing facilities, spoke with local fishermen and biologists, observed a salmon counting tower, and explored Katmai National Park.  

“From seeing millions...

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as Chief Executive Officer

Subway, one of the world's largest restaurant brands, today announced that Jonathan Fitzpatrick will join the company as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 28, 2025, following a comprehensive search.

With more than two decades of franchising and quick service restaurant experience, Fitzpatrick has a proven track record of elevating sales and operational performance across global networks. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Driven Brands where he led a best-in-class team to 17 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth...

ANALYSIS: EPO Tuna Landings Rise for Yellowfin, Fall for Skipjack as Seasonal Closures Loom

The latest information from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) indicates that the cumulative landing of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from January to June 2025 is 47.0% higher year-on-year (y-o-y) compared with the same period in 2024. Within the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), Mexico  accounts for the largest share of yellowfin tuna landings at 49%, followed by Ecuador with 21%  as of 2025 to date (Fig. 1)...

USDA Appoints New FSIS Administrator, Announces Five-Point Food Safety Plan

Last week, Dr. Justin Ransom assumed the role of FSIS Administrator, leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Under this role, Dr. Ransom will oversee the FSIS, ensuring the safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling of U.S. commercial meat, poultry, and processed egg products.

The presidential appointment was first announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on July 3, with Dr. Ransom officially assuming the role on July 14. 

The FSIS is a federal agency under the USDA responsible for ensuring food...

Canadian Trade Union Unifor Urges Action on US and China Seafood Tariffs

Canadian trade union Unifor highlighted its concerns regarding two critical tariff threats on Canadian seafood. Most notably, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and China’s tariffs on Canadian fishery products.

The trade union stated that its members, including those from the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) in Newfoundland and Labrador, the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union (UFAWU) in British Columbia, and the broader Canadian fishing industry, are facing genuine threats to their livelihoods.

The union noted that although the US tariffs...

Pacific States Disburses Funds for 2023 California Chinook Salmon Disaster

No salmon fishery in 2023 resulted in a huge loss to California fishermen and processors. Now, many should be receiving checks thanks to federal disaster relief.  

The 2023 California Sacramento River Fall Chinook, Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries were completely closed in 2023. The funds will provide partial compensation for revenues lost due to the total closure. 

California officials were already prepared to request disaster assistance when Acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis received word of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s recommended closure of the salmon seasons in...

Investigation Reveals 65% of Jackson, MS Restaurants are Mislabeling Imported Shrimp as Local 

A recent investigation by SeaD Consulting (SeaD) found that 65% of seafood restaurants in the Jackson, Mississippi area have falsely advertised imported shrimp as domestic wild-caught.  

The research is part of an ongoing eight-state investigation funded by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA). The study uses SeaD’s genetic testing method, RIGHTTest™ (Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test), to verify shrimp origins. 

This latest round of testing in Jackson took place from June 23–26, 2025, shortly before Mississippi’s new seafood labeling law...