ANALYSIS: US Shrimp Imports Land On Target in July, but Country and Product Splits Diverge

July US shrimp imports came in at 168.5 million lbs, almost exactly matching the Expana model estimate of 167.3 million lbs and landing comfortably inside the 157.4–177.2 million lb range. The total told a clean story. The composition underneath it did not.

By product type, peeled cleared the top of the estimate range at 94.9 million lbs against an upper bound of 90.0 million lbs. Shell-on landed within range at 42.2 million lbs. Cooked ran below range at 16.2 million lbs...

UK Air Traffic Control Meltdown Disrupts Key Export Gateway for Scottish Salmon

A nationwide air traffic control failure that grounded more than 1,000 UK flights this week briefly disrupted one of Scottish salmon's key export gateways. Heathrow suspended arrivals as the outage — traced to a technical fault at UK air traffic control provider NATS — hit airports across the country on Tuesday, September 8. NATS said it fixed the issue and operations returned to normal, though disruption continued into Wednesday as airlines worked to reposition aircraft and crews. The Guardian noted it marked Britain's third major NATS stoppage in just...

USDA Finalizes $22.9 Million in Catfish, Atlantic Pollock Awards for Child Nutrition Programs

The US Department of Agriculture has awarded contracts worth nearly $23 million for frozen catfish and Atlantic pollock fillets, closing out two Section 32 solicitations that Expana has been tracking since USDA returned to the seafood market in mid-August.

Catfish awards fall short of original ask

Under solicitation 12-3J14-26-B-0396, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded contracts for 3,952,000 pounds of catfish fillets, unbreaded and raw, packaged 20/2 lb, at prices ranging from $4.58 to $5.38 per pound...

Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods Taps Former Cox's Seafood Exec Bedi to Lead Business Development

Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods has appointed Vnay Bedi as Senior Vice President, Business Development, tasking him with leading strategy and innovation for the company's value-added seafood portfolio, according to a LinkedIn announcement from the brand. Bedi will focus on building strategic partnerships and driving new commercial opportunities across retail, foodservice, and other channels.

"I am thrilled to join Chicken of the Sea and to be part of such an iconic, trusted brand," Bedi said in a statement. "Chicken of the Sea...

HF Foods Closes $35M Acquisition of Canadian Seafood Distributor Searay

HF Foods has closed its acquisition of Searay Foods Inc. and related entities, completing the company’s first expansion outside the United States and entry into the Canadian market.

The company announced the deal in July. The CAD$47.9 million (about US$35 million) transaction includes 100% of Searay’s issued and outstanding equity interests and represents approximately 5.0 times Searay’s 2025 Adjusted EBITDA.

HF Foods paid CAD$38.4 million (approximately US$27.8 million) in cash and 1.7 million shares...

Eleventh Circuit Upholds Gag Grouper Rules Challenged by Alabama Fishermen

In an appeal of a 2024 case, Russo v Raimondo, a 3-0 decision from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals supported the lower court, upholding a rule to lower gag grouper catch limits and agreeing with other jurists that a part of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is unconstitutional.  

The part that concerns courts is a rarely used veto authority given to the members of the eight regional fisheries management councils. In determining cases brought by fishermen unhappy with council decisions affecting their livelihood, detailed analyses of the process...

The Retail Rundown: Meat Case Momentum Meets Football Season

Labor Day has come and gone, but summer is still lingering in much of the country. Warm temperatures are keeping grills in use even as consumers turn their attention to football, back-to-school routines, and heartier fall meals. 

For retailers, that overlap creates an opportunity to keep grilling staples prominent while gradually introducing the roasts, chops, and other cuts that typically gain momentum as temperatures drop. 

The 2026 NFL season officially starts today, putting game-day favorites such as wings, burgers, hot dogs, and ribs in the spotlight. Football promotions...

Circana, DoorDash Partnership Aims to Measure Incremental Value of Retail Media

Circana has entered into a new partnership with DoorDash to provide independent measurement of advertising performance on the delivery platform, giving consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands a way to assess whether Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands are generating incremental sales.

The collaboration comes as retail media advertisers increasingly look for standardized measurement that connects ad exposure with actual purchasing behavior.

"As retail media matures, most networks offer incrementality solutions for their own ecosystem, but marketers also need measurement they can compare and contrast across networks...

Fortifi Expands Separation Portfolio with SEPAmatic Acquisition

Fortifi Food Processing Solutions is widening its processing technology lineup with the acquisition of Germany-based SEPAFood Solutions GmbH, known in the market as SEPAmatic.

The deal adds a well-established supplier of separation and processing equipment for red meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, cheese and dairy to Fortifi’s portfolio. For seafood processors, the move strengthens Fortifi’s position in a key part of the value chain: recovering more usable product while protecting quality.

SEPAmatic is best known as a global supplier of low-pressure belt...

American Seafood Partners Acquires Cal Marine Fish Co., Building Coast-to-Coast Platform

American Seafood Partners (ASP) has acquired Cal Marine Fish Co., LLC, a West Coast commercial fishing, export, and vessel management company, in a move that extends the Rhode Island-based seafood platform from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The deal brings Cal Marine's fishing fleet, cold storage infrastructure, and multi-species processing capabilities into ASP's portfolio, with the California company's proximity to Pacific ports seen as a strategic complement to ASP's existing East Coast processing and distribution operations...

ASMI Consumer Research Finds Awareness Gap Fuels New Pan-European Alaska Surimi Campaign

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has launched a new consumer research initiative aimed at reshaping how European shoppers understand surimi, laying the groundwork for a Pan-European Genuine Alaska Pollock Surimi campaign designed to strengthen the product's position across the continent.

Europe is already a significant outlet for Alaska surimi, importing approximately 40,000 metric tons valued at $87.5 million in 2024. ASMI's new push aims to build on that base by tackling outdated perceptions of the product and reinforcing its quality, versatility, affordability...

ICFA Outlines Global Fisheries Priorities Ahead of COFI 37

Ahead of the Thirty-Seventh Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI 37), running September 7–11 in Rome, the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) has released its key priorities for the meeting, urging FAO members to keep science-based management at the center of an increasingly crowded international agenda.

ICFA is calling on FAO members to prioritize effective, science-based fisheries management, sustainable use of marine resources, global food security, and the elimination of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The group's submission argues that as international discussions...

ANALYSIS: India Farmgate Price Move Tracks Closely With Prior Years and the 11-Year Average

Last week's analysis flagged India whiteleg 30-count farmgate prices (exf Andhra Pradesh) moving higher, with a growing disconnect against softer US market conditions. That observation stands — but the seasonal record argues against treating the move as an isolated development.

The seasonal factor chart makes the case directly. The 2026 pattern — an early-year run-up, a pullback through the mid-year weeks, and the current push higher — tracks closely with where 2023, 2024, and 2025 were at the same point in the calendar, and...

Norway Posts Record August Seafood Export Value, Driven by Salmon Price Growth and US Rebound

Norway exported seafood worth NOK 16 billion (approximately €1.35 billion) in August, the highest August export value on record, according to statistics released Sept. 3 by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC). The figure represents an increase of NOK 1.9 billion, or 14%, compared with the same month last year.

"We are very pleased with the August figures. The high salmon price is the main driver behind the strong value growth," said NSC CEO Christian Chramer...

Louisiana Shrimp Assoc. Petitions Trump Administration for Import Relief, Targets 10,000 Signatures

The Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA) has launched a petition urging the Trump administration to take immediate action to protect domestic shrimp producers against what the group calls an unsustainable influx of imported product, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle.

The petition, authored by LSA's Marla Cooper, cites US shrimp imports of approximately 1.75 billion pounds in 2025, valued at more than $7 billion — a volume the group says has driven dockside prices below the cost of operations for Gulf Coast harvesters...

US House Passes PAIL Act, Creating DOJ Task Force to Prosecute Shrimp Trade Fraud

The US House of Representatives passed the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes (PAIL) Act of 2025 on September 1, clearing a significant legislative hurdle in a years-long effort by domestic shrimp producers to secure criminal enforcement against trade fraud schemes that have cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars in evaded antidumping duties.

H.R. 1869, introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) with 42 co-sponsors, would establish a dedicated task force within the Justice Department's Criminal Division to investigate...

Commerce Department Grants Fishery Disaster Status to Hoopa Valley Tribe, CA Sea Urchin Fishery

The US Department of Commerce has issued official fishery disaster determinations for the Hoopa Valley Tribe's Klamath River fall Chinook salmon fishery and California's red sea urchin fishery, making both eligible to receive federal disaster assistance for the first time.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), who has spent years pressing federal agencies to accelerate relief for California fishing communities, welcomed the determinations on September 2 as a critical step for two constituencies that have faced sustained economic losses with little federal recourse.

Russia Cuts 2027 Pollock Quota by 2.7% Amid Stock Decline

Russia has set new total allowable catch (TAC) quotas for pollock and other species for 2027, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

Russia's overall 2027 catch quota was set at 3.6 million tonnes, about 4% lower than 2026 figures. The pollock quota specifically was reduced by 2.73% year-over-year to 2.53 million tonnes. Rosrybolovstvo did not disclose specific reasons for the reduction, though it is likely linked to declining stocks in some of Russia's major pollock fishing areas...

SARIA to Acquire Stake in Chilean Salmon By-Product Firm Fiordo Austral

Germany's SARIA has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 36.45% stake in Fiordo Austral, a leading Chilean marine ingredients company, it said in an announcement.

Founded in 1995, Fiordo Austral operates six production sites with around 800 employees and specializes in processing salmon by-products for the aquaculture sector.

The partnership combines Fiordo Austral's operational expertise in Latin America with SARIA's technical capabilities and European commercial reach through its Bioceval business unit, SARIA said. The collaboration will also include product development and seek to expand

BPA Reverses Decision to End Funding for Oregon’s Salmon SAFE Program, At Least for the Next Year

Last Friday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced that Bonneville Power Administration will reverse its decision to end funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program immediately and will fund the program for one additional federal fiscal year. 

The decision followed discussions with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administrator Travis Kavulla. 

The SAFE program raises millions of salmon each year, supporting recreational and commercial fisheries in the Lower Columbia River.  BPA’s unexpected decision in June...

Norwegian Mackerel Returns to Japan as Saba Nouveau Season Begins

Fresh Norwegian mackerel will arrive in Japan on Sept. 11 for the sixth annual “Saba Nouveau” launch, a seasonal promotion highlighting Japan’s importance to Norway’s mackerel trade.

The first catch of the season will be flown to Tokyo through a partnership among the Norwegian Seafood Council, Japan Airlines and JALUX. The launch coincides with the Norway Seafood Festival, scheduled for Sept. 11–13 at Tokyo Solamachi’s Sky Arena.

Modeled on France’s Beaujolais Nouveau tradition, Saba Nouveau taps into Japan’s appreciation for hatsumono...

Hodges: Crab Inventory Is Committed. Demand Is Not.

The outlook entering fall is better than headline supply figures suggest, but the risks have changed. Much of the Canadian snow crab harvest has already been contracted or shipped, and major processors report little uncommitted inventory. This reduces the threat of widespread discounting, but it does not mean the crab has been sold through to the consumer.

Snow crab’s strongest demand period is normally during the summer, supported by crab boils, tourism, and foodservice activity. Foodservice movement has remained relatively good, particularly in the Southeast, but retail demand has been soft...

ANALYSIS: Scottish Salmon Exports Down 31%, Prices Up Despite Record Survival

Production health in Scotland continues to point to a positive year for Atlantic salmon producers, with Salmon Scotland reporting that the survival rate reached a record high of 99.2% in June 2026 (Figure 1). This exceptional farming performance has not boosted salmon availability, because cumulative exports of Scottish Atlantic salmon dropped by 31.3% year to date (YTD) from January to June 2026. Even with the drop in trade volume, market share distribution continues to be similar to that observed in 2025...

Murray Pushes Bill to End Trade War With Canada, Criticizes Trump As She Tours Home State of WA

“Our maritime industry and our ports power the economy in Washington state—our fish and shellfish travel far on their own, but our fishermen and our ports are the reason they’re famous worldwide,” said Senator Murray last week in Bellingham, WA, during a tour of the western part of the state.  

“And this administration’s reckless and unpredictable tariffs have been nothing short of a disaster for them—driving up costs and making it impossible for any small business to plan...

Russia Anticipates Stable Ivasi Sardine Catch for Next Five Years Before Sharp Decline

Russia expects several more years of stable ivasi (Pacific sardine) catches before volumes drop sharply, according to Herman Zverev, head of the All-Russian Fish Producers Association (VARPE), in comments to Russian media.

Zverev noted that Russia's ivasi catch fell nearly tenfold last year compared to 2024, dropping to just 60,000 tonnes — a decline he attributed to unexpected hydrological shifts rather than any systemic depletion of the stock.

"Water temperatures in our catch areas — the Sea of Japan and the Bering Sea...

House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Delay New Right Whale Regulations for Lobster Industry Until 2035

Maine lobstermen moved closer to a near-decade-long reprieve from new federal regulations as the House passed the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act (H.R. 9436) on Sept. 1, extending the current moratorium on new North Atlantic right whale gear rules from 2028 through 2035.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and now heads to the Senate. It passed the House Natural Resources Committee on a 22-13 bipartisan vote in July before advancing to...

Overnight Fire Destroys Young Ocean Seafood Warehouse in Kent, Washington

A two-alarm fire destroyed a Young Ocean seafood wholesaler warehouse in Kent, Washington, in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, dealing a significant blow to a Pacific Northwest seafood distribution operation.

Puget Sound Fire responded to the 20400 block of 80th Avenue South, just west of Highway 167, shortly after 1:30 a.m. When crews arrived, flames were already burning through the roof of the building, prompting a defensive posture — firefighters did not attempt an interior attack but instead deployed three aerial master streams and portable monitors...

Hilton Food Group Posts Mixed H1 Results as Seafood Unit Drags on Profit

Hilton Food Group reported a challenging first half of 2026 for its seafood operations, even as the broader business delivered volumes and revenue ahead of the prior year, according to interim results published Sept. 3.

Group revenue from continuing operations rose 15.3% to £2,289.1m (H1 2025: £1,986.1m), driven primarily by higher raw material prices across all markets. Volumes from continuing operations were up 2.1% to 258,729 tonnes. However, adjusted profit before tax from continuing operations fell 5.2% to £32.8m (H1 2025: £34.6m)...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

The latest headlines point to a food and agriculture market under pressure from several directions at once. From rising input costs and weather-driven disruptions in Europe to changing crop demand in India and continued uncertainty across global food and commodity markets, the stories highlight how interconnected forces are influencing the outlook heading into autumn. This list is in no particular order.

Find archives recaps, here. 

Pressure Builds Across European Agriculture

10. AGF Nitrogen, Europe’s No. 2 fertilizer and nitrogen products producer, said it is considering cutting ammonia output as higher...

ANALYSIS: Chilean Frozen Salmon at 52-Week Highs as Summer Correction Fails to Materialize

The Chilean frozen salmon market is firmly supported across both fillets and portions, with values currently sitting at or near 52-week highs and showing little willingness to ease. What makes this year's market particularly notable is not just where prices are, it is how they got here and what is driving the scarcity of spot supply that now defines the...