Ecuador Strengthens Asian Ties with MoC and Trade Agreement with Japan, Korea

Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment announced a pair of agreements that the country signed with Japan and the Republic of South Korea.

On August 28, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Ecuadorian Institute for the Promotion of Ecuador (PRO ECUADOR). The agreement focused on bilateral relations in trade, investment, industry and tech.

From an agricultural export standpoint, Ecuador’s non-oil exports to Japan exceeded $332 million. The country shipped over 14,000...

The Retail Rundown: Labor Day Protein Promotions at a Glance

Seafood leads Labor Day protein promotions, accounting for 27.1% of total ad volume. Pork follows at 23.2%, with beef and chicken each capturing about 22%. Retail buying opportunities for turkey held steady at 3.5%, while promotional activity for shell eggs remained limited.

Back-to-school demand has provided fair to fairly good retail support for eggs, according to Expana, with shelf prices holding mainly steady across most areas in the past month. Last week, white large Grade A eggs were advertised at $4.49 per dozen discounted, nearly $1...

Beaver Street Fisheries Recalls Walmart’s Great Value Shrimp Products Following FDA Advisory

Beaver Street Fisheries recalled Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp as a precautionary measure following the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory that warned the public not to consume certain shrimp products due to concerns over Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination.

The Florida-based company said the Walmart Great Value brand Frozen Raw Shrimp EZ-Peel & Deveined Tail-On 21-25 Per lb. products were distributed in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, and...

FDA's Uptick in Indonesian Shrimp Rejections Foreshadowed Recent Radioactive Contamination Alert

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been closely monitoring Indonesian shrimp imports long before its recent advisory regarding potential radioactive contamination of BMS Foods shrimp products bound for Walmart stores in over 10 states.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), a group representing the US wild-caught shrimp sector and has fought to curb the country’s reliance on shrimp imports, highlighted that the FDA has refused a significant number of entry lines of Indonesian shrimp so far in 2025...

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...

Ecuador’s Shrimp Sector Still Facing $20 Million Monthly Tariff Burden Even with Rate Advantage

Even with the lowest US tariff rate among leading shrimp importers, Ecuador’s shrimp industry faces a hefty $20 million monthly tariff cost, posing serious challenges for the sector, according to the country’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA).

Ecuador was the second-largest supplier of shrimp to the US, exporting 412 million pounds worth $1.28 billion, per the CNA. Between January and June 2025, the country shipped 296 million pounds of product valued at $867 million...

The Retail Rundown: Summer’s Last Stretch Drives Seasonal Promotions

August has arrived, bringing a sense of urgency to make the most of summer’s final weeks. With Labor Day fewer than four weeks away and just seven weeks remaining until the season’s official end, retailers are already diving into back-to-school promotions.

Seafood claims the top spot among protein features again this week, making up 30.3% of all retail ads, followed by beef at 26.2%, pork at 20.8%, and chicken at 18.9%. Egg promotions remain minimal, comprising less than 1% of features—consistent with last week’s light showing. The Midwest led in egg advertising, while the Northeast and South Central regions showed more moderate activity...

North Shore Fishery Brand Shrimp Recalled Due to Undeclared Allergen

Watson Enterprise Inc. recalled North Shore Fishery brand Frozen Cumin Flavour Shrimp due to undeclared wheat, per a notice published on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on July 31.

The audience for the recall was retail and warehouse, with the products distributed in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

Find the recall notice here...

Indian Seafood Producer Applauds UK Trade Pact, Foresees Export Surge for Shrimp

Indian seafood firm Kings Infra applauded the recent trade deal between India and the United Kingdom as it will lead to duty-free access for India’s seafood exports to the UK.

The company said the move will benefit exporters and boost trade volumes. Kings Infra pointed out that frozen fish ands shrimp products, processed seafood and fishmeal and fish-based ingredients will all benefit from the increased market access to the UK.

“This FTA is a landmark moment for Indian aquaculture. Duty-free access...

How Ecuadorian Shrimp Data is Driving Transparency in Global Seafood Supply Chains

As global seafood markets grow more complex, access to timely, reliable data is becoming essential for informed decision-making, especially in the fast-moving shrimp sector. Few commodities reflect international consumption shifts and supply chain pressures as clearly as shrimp, and Ecuador as a key exporter sits right at the centre of that story.

Earlier this year we witnessed a significant step when Gluna Shrimp, known for its accuracy in Ecuadorian shrimp pricing, joined forces with Expana, the world’s largest agrifood market intelligence and forecasting...

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...

Japan’s Shrimp Imports Increased 4% to 80,000 Tons During January-May

Japan's shrimp imports (total of frozen and processed products, excluding lobsters) from January to May increased by 4% year-on-year, reaching 80,158 tons. According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, processed shrimp saw an 11% increase to 25,517 tons, while frozen coldwater shrimp rose by 29% to 2,896 tons. Imports of frozen non-coldwater shrimp, including Vannamei and Black Tiger, remained flat at 51,746 tons. By country, imports from India and Ecuador, major producers of farmed Vannamei, increased...

Hong Kong’s Ocean One Targets Aggressive China Growth After Import Ban Eases on Japanese Seafood

Hong Kong-based frozen seafood importer and wholesaler Ocean One announced that it will increase its cooperation with Chinese customers following China's resumption of seafood imports from Japan. The company stated that the move will involve “more aggressive market strategies to expand mainland business sales.”

The company views the reopening of many areas of Japan for seafood imports into China as a “significant opportunity” to both expand and enhance sales performance.

Ocean One’s China business accounted for 11.6% of its revenue, the second-largest share...

USDA Awards $34.66 Million for Pacific Pink Shrimp and Atlantic Groundfish Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded $34.66 million in Section 32 contracts for Pacific pink shrimp ($15.73 million) and Atlantic groundfish ($18.93 million).

The announcement comes after the USDA’s pre-solicitation notice on May 23 and its solicitation notice on June 16 for frozen Atlantic pollock fillets, frozen haddock fillets, frozen ocean perch fillets, and Pacific salad shrimp.

Among the successful pink shrimp contracts were the following awards for Pacific salad shrimp: $3.275 million to Bornstein Seafoods, Inc., $10.01 million...

TCRS’s Annual Shrimp Summit Underscores Industry Promise Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Around 500 shrimp experts and industry stakeholders recently gathered in-person and online to participate in The Center for Responsible Seafood’s (TCRS) annual Shrimp Summit, which was held in Bali from June 22-26.

During the event, attendees explored the latest trends and technologies and the potential for shrimp industry growth down the line.

A critical concern expressed by attendees was tariffs and their impact on global markets, as cited by 100% of respondents surveyed during the Summit’s first session.

“Challenging economic conditions and market uncertainty made it even more..."

ANALYSIS: Front-Loading Frenzy; May Shrimp Imports Increase 14.6% YTD on Tariff Deadline

Executive Summary

May shrimp import data reveals continued strong volume growth accompanied by rising replacement costs, creating a challenging market dynamic. While imports exceeded expectations across most categories, the combination of higher volumes, elevated costs, and front-loading ahead of tariff implementation, suggests significant inventory accumulation. The market faces a fundamental paradox: imports and costs are both rising, yet U.S. demand remains tepid, pointing to inevitable margin compression as the industry struggles to absorb higher costs across the supply chain without proportional demand...

Captain D’s Featuring Batter Dipped Shrimp for First Time

Fast casual seafood chain Captain D’s unveiled a new first in the company’s 55-plus-year history.

The brand launched Batter Dipped Shrimp, marking the first time shrimp will feature the company’s batter. The product is available from August 25 through October 26 for $5.99.

"Our guests know and love the flavor and crunch of our Batter Dipped Fish," said Bindi Menon, Chief Marketing Officer of Captain D's. "With our new Batter Dipped Shrimp, we're giving them that same crave-worthy taste in a whole new way...

Southwind Foods Recalls Frozen Shrimp Amid Radioactive Cs-137 Investigation

Carson, California-based Southwind Foods voluntarily recalled frozen shrimp products linked to the recent concerns over Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive contamination on August 21.

The bagged, frozen shrimp products were distributed between July 17 and August 8 to retailers, distributors and wholesalers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.

Impacted products included Best Yet cooked frozen shrimp, Sand Bar raw frozen shrimp, Arctic Shores cooked frozen shrimp, Great American Seafood Imports frozen shrimp and First Street frozen raw shrimp...

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...

Major Indonesian Shrimp Exporter PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati Placed on FDA Red List

PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, the largest Indonesian shrimp supplier to the United States, will be subject to an automatic detention when its products enter the US.

On August 14, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an import alert that said all products imported by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati would be subject to detention without physical examination. The move puts the firm on the FDA’s “Red List.”

“This Import Alert covers specific firms and their food products that appear to have been prepared, packed, or held...

Trump’s New 50% Tariff on India Threatens Shrimp Exports to the US

India, the United States' top shrimp supplier, now faces a 50% tariff.

President Donald Trump levied an additional 25% tariff on India, just days after he imposed a 25% tariff on the country, as Expana reported.

“I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an August 6 executive order.

The move serves as a penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil. It is now one of the highest rates of all US trading partners...

The Winding Glass: $1 Billion Tariff Hit to Shrimp Industry Will Lead to Downturn in 12 Months

The US has finalized, for now, tariff rates on the major shrimp-importing countries, and the industry is preparing for a period of significantly higher costs. 

In this column, we look back at other periods when shrimp prices rapidly rose 20% or more to predict what the longer-term impact will be on our industry and customers. 

Things don’t look good.  

We calculated tariff impacts by using full year 2024 values for the major types of shrimp imports, shell-on...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Push Protein as July Wraps

As July comes to a close and summer heat intensifies, retailers are pushing protein promotions to attract shoppers and encourage at-home grilling and cooking.

Seafood reclaimed the top spot in protein ad share this week, accounting for nearly 27% of all features. Pork followed at 24%, while beef and chicken trailed close behind at roughly 23% each. Egg promotions dipped slightly to around 1%.

Expana notes that retail egg demand has softened—typical for summer, when hot weather reduces in-home usage. Shelf prices are holding near $3.00 per dozen, well below early-year highs, but lighter consumption has dampened order volumes...

The Retail Rundown: Beef Edges Out Seafood in Weekly Protein Features

Beef narrowly edged out seafood for the top spot in retail protein promotions this week, making up 25.9% of all featured items. Seafood was a close second at 25.3%, while pork and chicken each accounted for about 23%. Eggs represented roughly 2% of ads, and turkey dipped below 1%.

Beef steaks remained a premium grilling choice, averaging $14.21 per pound last week. Seafood also led on price, with fresh salmon reaching as high as $17.24 per pound in some regions...

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...

Ecuador’s Shrimp Sector Calls for Private-Public Security Partnership Amid Crime Threats

Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) highlighted the thousands of operations carried out to contain the threat of criminal activity targeting the nation’s shrimp farming sector on July 17.

CNA said that despite the efforts of the National Police and the General Directorate of Aquatic Spaces (DIRNEA) of the Ecuadorian Navy, there are limitations in resources, technology and equipment.

The group called on the participation of the private sector in strengthening security for the shrimp farming industry. CNA noted a regulation that allows private organizations to directly...

US Seafood Groups Push for Federal Investigation Into Imported Seafood With Banned Antibiotics

The Oregon Trawl Commission (OTC), along with the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and the crawfish industry, sent a letter to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) requesting a Section 301 Investigation on the use of antibiotics in farm-raised foreign seafood.

The OTC letter, addressed to USTR Jamieson Greer, requested that the USTR examine how the use of unapproved antibiotics and veterinary drugs constitutes an unfair trade practice that leads to downward pricing pressure on US seafood producers, who face stricter safety standards...

Sea Horse Easy Peel Shrimp Recalled Due to Undeclared Sulphites 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall for Sea Horse brand Easy Peel Shrimp because the product contains undeclared sulphites.  

The affected shrimp was distributed in Quebec and has a “best before” date of February 17, 2026.  

The CFIA is urging consumers not to eat, sell, serve, or distribute the product.  

No illnesses have been reported at this time. 

The CFIA notes that the investigation is ongoing and may lead to the recall of other products.

Read the...

The Winding Glass: Seafood Trade Disruptions Reappear While Economic Headwinds Drive Prices Down

The economic collapse that many of us feared from the chaotic tariff policies of the Trump administration has not materialized—at least not yet. The seafood industry has shown a remarkable degree of resilience in the face of disruptive trade policy. But this should not be mistaken for invulnerability. The more pressing issue now is not tariffs but weakening consumer demand.

There are three reasons the anticipated tariff-induced disaster hasn’t occurred. First, there’s a deep political bias baked into how people perceive economic risks...

Prime Shrimp Launches New Shrimp Burgers for Retail and Foodservice

Value-added shrimp company Prime Shrimp has unveiled its Prime Shrimp Burgers, which are now offered to customers in the foodservice and retail sectors.

The burgers are made with 80 percent shrimp and are free from sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). The product is cook-from-frozen and pre-portioned, per Prime Shrimp.

Prime Shrimp said the burgers feature Pacific White Shrimp sourced from Ecuador. The 4-ounce patties feature large shrimp pieces, chopped bell pepper, and Prime Shrimp’s Signature Cajun seasoning...