US Valentine's Day Index 2025

As Valentine’s Day traditionally provides a boost for restaurants and confectionary retailers, Expana has analyzed the key commodities associated with this holiday.

Expana’s US Valentine's Day Chocolate Index consists of cocoa beans, sugar, and skimmed milk powder (SMP). In addition, consumption of strawberries increases during the Valentine’s Day period, and vanilla is widely used in preparation of cakes and chocolates. As a result, Expana has included the prices of these commodities separately in this report.

Although US consumers and retailers will welcome more affordable meal prices than in 2024, the cost of confectionery this Valentine’s...

A Major Paradigm Shift in King Crab and Shellfish Sector

As we enter the second month of 2025 we are witnessing a paradigm shift where king crab is taking over premium lobster tails as the "luxury" shellfish. Despite record-breaking prices, demand remains strong with consumers willing to support the continued price growth.

The record-high prices of 2024 have carried into 2025, with red and golden king crab reaching all-time highs. Total supply ----combining Alaska production and imports from Norway and Argentina ---declined again by over 7% from the prior year to just 7.7 million pounds...

ANALYSIS: Diving into Market Dynamics, Fishing Levels as 2025 Argentine Illex Squid Season Begins

The illex squid (Illex argentinus) fishing season, starting on January 2, 2025, in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), has been ongoing for over a month. Market participants have reported that the landing has been adequate, and the price for the raw materials increased by around 10%. However, the companies in Argentina will have to face several challenges this season, such as the rising cost of operation and labor and the uncertainty regarding the stock levels. In the last two years...

Ecuador and Mexico Clash Over Shrimp Trade and Tariff Disputes

On Monday, February 3, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared that Ecuador would be applying a 27% tariff on all Mexican goods in order to promote fair treatment of Ecuadorian companies.

At a press conference the following day, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded, saying that Mexican exports into Ecuador account for only 0.4% of Mexico’s overall foreign exports, implying that the proposed tariffs will not have a significant impact on the Central America country.

José Antonio Camposano, executive president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador, then replied via...

Cermaq Norway’s Top Executive Knut Ellekjær Steps Down After Eight Years

The top executive of Cermaq’s Norwegian operations decided to leave the company after eight years at the helm. 

Salmon farmer Cermaq announced that Knut Ellekjær would step down as head of Cermaq Norway’s operations, with Kristin Hurum set to take over. 

"After 8 years, it is the right time to pass the baton on. It has been fantastic years in a strong, committed and competent organization, with major investments, and doubling of volume and turnover with a clearer responsible profile. We have designed and are now launching a new...

USCG Seizes 9 Sharks and 1,350 lbs. of Illegally Caught Fish From Mexican Fishermen Off Texas Coast

On Thursday, February 6, the US Coast Guard (USCG) intercepted three lanchas with 11 Mexican fishermen who were engaged in illegal fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line.

Aboard the vessels, USCG crews found 1,350 pounds of illegally caught red snapper, nine sharks, fishing gear, and highflyers.

The interception, led by Coast Guard (CG) Station South Padre Island boat crews, occurred in federal waters off southern Texas. The mission was executed in coordination with CG Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watchstanders, CG Air...

2025 Awards Announced for Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation

The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF) recently announced its 2025 aquaculture scholarships, with awards going to four Indigenous students, all of whom represent federally recognized Tribes.

The KGASF was established in honor of Kurt Grinnell, a Native American leader from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington State. Grinnell viewed aquaculture as a solution to Tribal food security, and Indigenous reconciliation and wellbeing.

Through the annual scholarship program, the Foundation provides financial assistance to Tribal and First Nations students who wish to pursue careers in aquaculture and natural resources...

US Becomes Largest Market for Norwegian Seafood Exports in January Amid Tariff Talks

The US was the largest market for Norwegian seafood exports in January 2025 on a value basis. The Norwegian Seafood Council said the country exported NOK 1.5 billion ($133.7 million), accounting for 9.7% of total exports.

“Even though President Donald Trump has talked a lot about increased tariffs for his trading partners, we note that January was a historic month for Norwegian seafood exports to the US. Never has Norway exported fish and shellfish worth as much to the US market as we did in January...

Bristol Seafood Names Bri Warner as VP of Marketing and Strategy

Bristol Seafood announced that Briana Warner has joined the company as Vice President – Marketing & Strategy.

"Since developing our chef-inspired My Fish Dish line of value-added products in 2019, Bristol has continued to innovate with the launch of Seafood Singles packaged for convenience, Cedar Plank developed for the grill, and Grab & Go," said Iréne Moon, Senior Vice President - Sales & Marketing at Bristol. "Today, shoppers can enjoy our products in over 3,800 stores throughout the United States. I’m excited to have Briana, a true driver...

Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Recall of Select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s Tuna Cans

On Thursday, February 7, Tri-Union Seafoods issued a voluntary recall of select Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s canned tuna products due to a potential clostridium botulinum contamination.

According to the seafood producer, the recall was issued out of an abundance of caution following the notification from Tri-Union Seafoods’ supplier about a manufacturing defect that had occurred with the "easy open" pull tab can lid on certain tuna products. As a result, the defective lids compromised the...

Royal Greenland Fires CEO, Cites Need for 'Different Profile' Leadership

Royal Greenland fired CEO Susanne Arfelt Rajamand effective immediately, per a statement from the company.  

Arfelt Rajamand has served in the role since February 1, 2023. 

Chair of the Board, Maliina Abelsen, said of the decision: 

"Over the past two years, Royal Greenland has faced challenges in several areas. At this time, the Board has unanimously concluded that the company requires a CEO with a different profile, and we are therefore initiating a recruitment process. We thank Susanne for her cooperation and contributions...

Hokkaido Fishery's 2024 Pollock, Cod, and Herring Production Increased Amid Overall Production Dip

In 2024, Hokkaido's fishery production volume was 1.049 million tons, down 8% from the previous year, with the value being 279.8 billion yen, down 4%. Scallops and sardines, which had been strong in recent years, have started to decline, falling below 1.1 million tons for the first time in five years since 2019. The Hokkaido government recently announced preliminary figures.

According to the Minato Shimbun report on February 5, scallop production was down 8% in volume, amounting to 390,000 tons, marking a dip below 400,000...

Catch Restrictions Could Pave the Way for Higher Priced Capelin, Other Species in Russia

Russia faces a sharp growth in prices for capelin due to the recent restriction on its catch.

The recent imposition of a ban on Atlantic capelin catch to maintain spawning stocks for future fishing has increased its price in the Russian market by more than 14% since the beginning of January 2025. In addition, due to the reduction of quotas for the total allowable catch (TAC), problems have arisen with the availability of other fish species, including cod, haddock, beaked cod, and halibut...

Captain D’s Expands into Maryland and Texas

On February 5, American fast-casual seafood restaurant Captain D’s announced its expansion into Maryland and Texas.

Over the next seven years, Captain D’s will develop five new restaurants in Prince George County, Maryland. This marks the company’s expansion into the Northeast and its 24th state, thus building on more than 530 existing locations.

To achieve its Maryland development, Captain D’s is partnering with Shahid Raza and Ahmed Fawad, who represent an experienced team already operating successful restaurants and franchise businesses in New York, Maryland and Virginia Beach.

For Captain D’s Texas expansion...

Lawmakers Sound Alarm as Musk's 'DOGE' Enter NOAA Offices

A pair of US lawmakers claimed that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has unlawfully gained access to the federal government and now has the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its sights.

In a joint statement, US House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said that DOGE has reached NOAA and is “wreaking havoc on the scientific and regulatory systems that protect American families’ safety and jobs...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Appoints New Chair, Vice Chair of Board of Directors

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) announced Jason Driskill, vice president of seafood for retailer H-E-B, has been appointed as the new chair of the SNP’s Board of Directors.

Driskill oversees procurement, merchandising, marketing, and sustainability for fresh and frozen seafood, along with sushi, at all H-E-B Texas stores.

The SNP noted Driskill’s work with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) to make responsible sourcing choices. Before his time at H-E-B, Driskill led Texas operations for Pacific Seafood.

LDWF Investigates Saltwater Fish Kills Along Louisiana Coast Following Recent Freeze

Earlier this week, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released a bulletin regarding recent reports of saltwater fish kills along Louisiana’s coast.

The announcement comes after coastal water temperatures fell below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby reaching critical temperatures for saltwater fish species in the area like spotted seatrout, red drum, black drum, and sheepshead.

The conditions lasted for several days, and numerous reports of fish kills have been observed and documented.

On January 24, 2025, LDWF field biologists began their coastal water investigation. Those efforts are still...