ANALYSIS: US April Shrimp Imports Down 16% as India Volumes Retreat Sharply

April's official US shrimp imports totaled 129.0 million lbs on an adjusted basis, landing within the product-type Expana model range of 124.8–144.4M lbs.

The headline figure held, but the composition across product types offers additional context. Peeled came in at 68.7M lbs, fractionally above the upper model estimate of 68.0M lbs. Shell-on landed at 34.0M lbs, at the lower bound of the projected range. Breaded at 11.4M lbs fell within range. Cooked was the notable deviation at 12.8M lbs, below the lower model estimate...

Wild Alaskan Company to Directly Operate Kasilof Buying Station for 2026 Salmon Season

Wild Alaskan Company will directly operate the Kasilof buying station for the upcoming salmon season, reversing its original plan to bring in an outside operator after acquiring the facility in February.

The company said it has committed the capital, personnel, and operational resources needed to prepare the facility for the 2026 season. The Kasilof station serves Alaska's second-largest sockeye salmon fishery and plays a key role in access, logistics, and value creation across the region.

"While it wasn't our original plan, we chose...

Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Britt Urge USDA Action on Catfish Virus Threats

US Senators Roger Wicker, Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) are calling on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act before two highly contagious viruses can reach farm-raised catfish operations in Mississippi and other states.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the senators urged prompt action to assess and mitigate the impacts of Yellow Catfish Virus (YcCV) and Channel Catfish Virus (CCV), warning that an unchecked outbreak could severely damage the domestic industry...

CDC Report: Tuna and Reef Fish Behind Most US Seafood Toxin Outbreaks Over 13-Year Span

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that marine toxins were responsible for 402 foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States between 2011 and 2023, resulting in 1,280 illnesses, 96 hospitalizations, and one death, with tuna and tropical reef fish at the center of most cases.

Published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the analysis represents the first national summary of all foodborne outbreaks caused by marine toxins across that period. Scombroid toxin poisoning and ciguatoxin together accounted...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

This week’s Top 10 highlights the key risks, policy developments and market shifts shaping the agri-food landscape, from biosecurity threats and farm labor reform to fertilizer costs, cocoa competition and resilient consumer demand. From the spread of New World screwworm in the US and proposed changes to the H-2A program, to private label growth, Father’s Day meat promotions and climate risks facing West Coast fisheries, these are the stories driving markets this week. This list is in no particular order. 

Find archived recaps here.

10. Private labels continue...

Russian Crab Exports Hit Record High in First Five Months of 2026

Russian crab exports reached record levels in the first five months of 2026, driven by stable demand and a generally favorable market environment.

According to the Russian Federal Center for Agroexports — the agency responsible for monitoring agricultural exports from Russia — shipments from January through May totaled nearly 34,000 tons (live, fresh, chilled, and frozen), up 11% compared to the same period in 2025. Export revenue climbed 26% to $930 million. Both figures set records for the January–May period...

Norcod Secures Exclusive Five-Year Juvenile Supply Deal with Havland

Norwegian cod farmer Norcod has signed a five-year agreement with juvenile supplier Havland, under which Havland will supply all of its cod juveniles exclusively to Norcod.

The deal deepens a relationship that stretches back to 2018, when the two companies began working together to rebuild cod farming in Norway. In 2021, they entered a joint venture to establish a cod hatchery in Florø, supporting the next phase of growth for the sector.

"Havland has for many years been, and continues to be, an important partner for Norcod...

Brands Compete on Value, Experience and Summer Promotions in Foodservice

Rising prices, shifting consumer expectations and seasonal marketing pushes are shaping the latest moves across foodservice. From affordability and customer satisfaction trends to global expansion, soccer-themed promotions and summer menu innovation, restaurant brands are refining how they attract traffic, build loyalty and compete for consumer spending.

With fast-food costs climbing and value under greater scrutiny, new studies highlight how affordability and customer satisfaction are shaping consumer choices.

A new WalletHub study finds fast food is becoming less affordable, with sharp state-by-state differences...

Aysén Agencies, Salmon Farmers Test HAB Mass Mortality Response in Joint Simulation

Chile’s Aysén region is stepping up contingency planning for large-scale aquaculture emergencies, with  the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) participating in a simulation tied to a salmon mass mortality event caused by a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB).

The exercise, organized by the Inter-Institutional Committee on Environmental Contingencies (CIICA), brought together public agencies and local salmon farming companies to test how the sector would respond to a complex event involving logistical constraints, high mortality management and communication...

NOAA Directs $123.6M in Fishery Disaster Funds to Alaska, West Coast, and Squaxin Island Tribe

The US Department of Commerce announced Tuesday the allocation of $123.6 million in fishery resource disaster funding, drawn from money appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act of 2025. The funds are directed at fishery disasters that struck Oregon, California, Alaska, and the Squaxin Island Tribe in Washington between 2019 and 2023.

NOAA Fisheries used commercial revenue loss data to determine how funding will be distributed across the eligible disasters. Funds can be deployed for a range of recovery activities, including fishery infrastructure...

What a Super El Niño Could Mean for Alaska's Seabirds, Salmon, and Seas

With the declaration of an El Niño last week and forecasts that it will intensify into a "Super El Niño" this winter, US Geological Survey (USGS) researchers are tracking how warming waters threaten Alaska's ecosystems — from seabird die-offs and harmful algal blooms to heat-stressed salmon.

In the US, El Niño brings warmer conditions to northern states and wetter conditions to southern states, but the phenomenon's energy also affects seabed ecosystems and atmospheric conditions. Because peak El Niño is expected during winter 2026-2027, effects...

Expana's Publication Schedule for Juneteenth, June 19, 2026

Expana will be observing the Juneteenth holiday on Friday, June 19, across its Americas offices. This holiday schedule will impact the publication dates of several Expana Benchmark Prices and some news.

The European and APAC offices’ publication schedules will be unaffected by this holiday. Regular publishing schedules will resume on Monday, June 22, 2026.

The Juneteenth holiday period will affect the following markets...

Americold Opens New Cold Chain Hub at Port Saint John, Expanding Global Trade Connections

Americold Realty Trust has opened a new import-export hub at Port Saint John, strengthening links between North American producers and international markets while advancing temperature-controlled logistics in Canada.

Unveiled during Port Days 2026, the facility was developed with DP World and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). The project combines cold storage, maritime logistics and rail transportation in a single location, creating what the companies describe as the first integrated operation of its kind globally...

Dongwon F&B Completes Global Advanced Base 'Protein Nexus' in Jincheon

Kim Sung-yong, Dongwon F&B’s CEO, announced earlier this week that the Korean seafood giant has completed its second Jincheon business site in Gwanghyewon-myeon, Jincheon-gun, and has begun full-scale operations there. Jincheon-gun is part of the North Chungcheong Province, or Chungcheongbuk-do, in South Korea. 

The Jincheon Second Site is a state-of-the-art production facility with an investment of 140 billion won (US$105 million) and floor space of 142,000 square feet (4,400 pyeong) per floor with two above-ground floors...

Machina Launches Performance‑Driven TV Campaign for Get Maine Lobster

Machina, an insight‑driven advisory focused on performance marketing across linear television, CTV, broadcast, and streaming platforms, announced the launch of a 30‑second spot for Black Point Seafood’s Get Maine Lobster (GML).

The campaign marks GML’s debut in television advertising and underscores the brand’s move into AI‑driven performance marketing for the direct‑to‑consumer channel.

“The Get Maine Lobster campaign proves that with the right technology, the right strategic partners, and a founder willing to make the leap, performance TV can deliver extraordinary results", said Machina's Managing Director Michael Pierce.

Port of Tacoma Approves Ground Lease for $250M Cold Storage Facility Expected to Create 400 Jobs

The Port of Tacoma Commission on June 16 approved a 50-year ground lease with Saxum Investment Company, LLC for a cold storage and food processing facility on a 30-acre site on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula.

Saxum anticipates investing up to $250 million in the project, which is expected to generate up to 400 jobs and $43 million in annual wages upon completion. The facility will feature high-efficiency cold storage and purpose-built food processing space, with direct access...

Pokeworks Expands Limited-Time Menu Strategy with New High-Protein Surf & Turf Bowl

Pokeworks is tapping into growing consumer demand for protein-forward menu options with the launch of its new High-Protein Surf & Turf Bowl, available for a limited time across participating locations nationwide.

The fast-casual poke brand's latest limited-time offering combines premium ahi tuna and chicken breast in a single entrée designed to appeal to guests seeking higher-protein meal options without sacrificing flavor or customization. The bowl delivers 44 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber, pairing...