ANALYSIS: July US Shrimp Inventory Estimated at 376M lbs — Above Trend but Within a Manageable Range

With July imports estimated at 167–169 million lbs on a customs-model basis, end-of-July inventory is projected at approximately 376 million lbs — roughly 5.6% above the pre-pandemic ETS trend line, which serves as a demand-consistent baseline. At the export-seasonal model's midpoint of 183 million lbs, that gap widens to approximately 6.6%. A 5–8% overhang above trend represents a soft supply bias, not a structural imbalance. The July figure is worth contextualizing...

ANALYSIS: US Scallop Season Runs Ahead of Pace but Smaller Counts Weigh on Pricing

The 2026–27 domestic sea scallop season is tracking ahead of the prior two years, with cumulative landings reaching 14.18 million lbs through July — representing 83.1% of the 17 million lb Annual Projected Limit. Monthly volumes followed a typical seasonal pattern: May reached 4.52M lbs, June came in at 3.63M lbs, and July moderated to 2.15M lbs, slightly below last year's July result but keeping the season ahead on a year-to-date basis compared to both 25-26 (11.97M lbs) and 24-25 (10.96M lbs)...

Eight Ecuadorian Shrimp Plants Back in China's Market After Two-Month Sulfite Standoff

China has restored import access for eight Ecuadorian shrimp processing plants suspended since June, marking the first concrete sign of progress in a dispute that has cost Ecuador's shrimp sector tens of millions of dollars and drawn urgent diplomatic attention from both governments.

According to Diario Expreso, China's General Administration of Customs reinstated the eight facilities effective August 14, 2026 — roughly six weeks after restrictions were first imposed following a change in China's sodium metabisulfite testing methodology that took effect June 30...

AGRIMINGOLD First in Ecuador to Move from ASC’s Improver Program to Full Certification

Ecuadorian shrimp producer AGRIMINGOLD S.A. has become the first company to transition from Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC's) Improver Programme to full ASC certification, marking a milestone for both the producer and the ASC improvement pathway.

Last year, AGRIMINGOLD became the first farm in Ecuador and the first producer in Latin America to enter ASC’s Improver Programme through an Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP).

According to an Expana report, the project initially covered a 135-hectare Pacific white shrimp farm in El Oro Province...

Annual Tuna Closure Hits Eastern Pacific — Routine, But Timed as Prices Stay Elevated

The Eastern Pacific Ocean purse seine tuna fishery is in its annual closure period under rules set by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the multilateral body that manages tuna and other fish stocks across the region. The closure applies to large purse seine vessels targeting bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna and is a standard conservation measure in place for years.

For 2026, the closure runs 64 days—eight days shorter than the 72-day closure in prior years —following a resolution adopted...

Dungeness Crab Price-Fixing Suit Discloses $263M Damages Claim Against Pacific Seafood, Defendants

Plaintiffs in the Dungeness crab antitrust lawsuit targeting Pacific Seafood Group and dozens of other West Coast seafood buyers have publicly disclosed for the first time that they estimate total damages at $263 million — a figure that could reach approximately $789 million under federal antitrust law, which allows courts to award triple damages in price-fixing cases.

The disclosure came in an August 11 filing in the US District Court for the Northern District of California...

Russia Ramps Up Seafood Exports in Push for Additional Revenue

Russia is stepping up seafood exports this year as part of a broader effort to generate additional revenue for the state budget.

Shrimp is a particular focus. Russian shrimp exports reached more than 5,000 MT in the first half of the year, valued at approximately $76 million — up 17% year-on-year, according to the Russian federal export center Agroexport. South Korea is the largest buyer, accounting for $57 million of that total, with China and Japan also among the top destinations...

New Report Says Salmon Farming is a 'Key Anchor' for Rural and Coastal Communities in Scotland

A new report from global infrastructure consultant AECOM found that Scotland's salmon farming industry significantly supports the economic and social fabric of the country's rural, coastal, and island communities.

The 37-page report, "The Role of the Scottish Salmon Farming Sector in Scotland's Rural and Coastal Communities," found that salmon farming helps sustain school rolls, teaching posts, local shops and businesses — and directly employs more than a third of the population of one island. The study drew on interviews with community members and a...

Gimme Seaweed Launches Bold New Back-to-School Brand Campaign

It’s an easy-to-eat snack that’s a nutritional powerhouse and easy on the planet. It is becoming a staple in American pantries, in part thanks to Gimme Seaweed's marketing strategy, which has propelled it to the #1 organic seaweed snack brand in the U.S.  

The campaign, celebrating the small moments that make up everyday life and Gimme's growing role in them, includes Gimme’s first live-action video ads, new photography, and digital storytelling that will run across connected TV, paid social, podcasts, and Gimme's website. It signals the next...

ANALYSIS: European Pollock Imports Decline as Supply Tightens and Prices Rally

Imports of frozen pollock fillets into Europe (European Union and United Kingdom) decreased 6.9% year to date (YTD) through May 2026, reaching 110,649 MT, according to National Customs. Russia remains the dominant supplier with a 46.5% market share, followed by the US (33.5%) and China (19.7%). Both US and Chinese suppliers experienced significant declines, with volumes down 15.9% and 15.5% YTD, respectively...

PODCAST: Ep. 44 - Iran 'Impasse' & US Feed Additive Supply Challenges, Feat. A. Woods & G. Potter

Join host, Expana Managing Editor - EMEA Simon Duke, on Agri-food for Thought as he explores the forces shaping agricultural markets with two expert guests offering deep market insights.

This week's episode kicks off with a news roundup covering significant regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions. The FDA has proposed mandatory notification requirements for food additives and feed ingredients as part of efforts to increase food supply transparency. Meanwhile, escalating Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian Black Sea ports

High Liner Foods Posts 12% Sales Jump in Q2 as New Products and USDA Purchase Drive Volume

High Liner Foods President and CEO Paul Jewer said the company maintained topline momentum in the second quarter of 2026, citing steady customer demand, a disciplined promotional approach, and strong early response to its latest product launches.

Sales in Q2 2026 rose $29.7 million, or 12.4%, to $269.3 million compared to $239.6 million in the same period last year, driven by both higher volumes and increased pricing reflecting inflationary market conditions. Sales volumes climbed 2.2 million pounds...

Back-to-School Demand Shifts Drive Breakfast, Value and New Menu Moves in Foodservice

With back-to-school season just around the corner, foodservice operators and suppliers are gearing up for a familiar demand shift—more morning traffic, more weeknight convenience, and tighter attention to value. This biweekly roundup highlights the key moves across the sector, from hot breakfast and grab-and-go meal plays to new menu items and notable financial results shaping the weeks ahead.

Promotions and limited time offers

Breakfast all day

7-Eleven is launching limited-time back-to-school breakfast...

Middle East Market Intelligence Brief: Week Ending August 14, 2026

The US said Thursday it could sustain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and vowed tougher economic pressure as ceasefire talks stall and tensions around key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, intensify.

Iran, meanwhile, has tightened pressure on Hormuz, where attacks on vessels and sharply reduced traffic threaten a key global energy artery.

With talks stalled and pressure mounting over fuel prices, Washington appears increasingly focused on economic measures, while the war’s trajectory remains closely linked to Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and its potential impact on global energy markets.

Below is Expana’s weekly summary of the...

Ecuador Shrimp Sector Faces Mounting Losses as Metabisulfite Dispute With China Drags On

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) says it has secured a commitment from Chinese authorities for technical-level dialogue to address ongoing restrictions on Ecuadorian shrimp exporters, offering a cautious sign of progress in a dispute that has cost the sector tens of millions of dollars since late June.

The CNA posted an August 7 update on its website noting that Ecuador's government and industry have been coordinating to respond to observations from China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) related to sodium metabisulfite — a widely used preservative...

ASMI Welcomes Jeff Welbourn to Board of Directors

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has appointed Jeff Welbourn, president of Trident USA, to its Board of Directors, adding a seasoned seafood executive with deep, end-to-end experience in Alaska’s seafood sector.

Welbourn leads Trident Seafoods’ North America and Latin America businesses and oversees a wide portfolio that includes value-added operations, domestic sales, commercial strategy, R&D, product management and sales operations. In the role, he works across harvesting, processing, sales and operations with a focus on sustainable growth and valu...

BioMar's Q2 Revenue Rises 4.8%

Today, BioMar released its first quarterly report as a publicly listed company. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and raw material supply challenges, the company reports volume growth of 5% compared with the year-to-date period last year.

While the feed business continues to perform strongly, the overall first-half results were partly impacted, as expected and planned, by transformation costs related to the strategic development of the technology business towards more direct sales and recurring revenue. In parallel, the recently completed IPO implied higher cost during the period.

Commerce Raises Final Antidumping Rates on Vietnamese Pangasius

The US Department of Commerce has finalized significantly higher antidumping duty rates for Vietnamese frozen pangasius fillet exporters, closing out the 21st administrative review of an order that has governed the trade for more than two decades — and delivering a sharper outcome than the preliminary results suggested.

The final results, published in the Federal Register on August 13 (91 FR 52286, Doc No. 2026-16553), cover the period of review (POR) from August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024. Commerce determined that mandatory respondents Bien Dong Seafood Co., Ltd...

USDA's Office of Seafood Joins UMaine's Local Catch Network to Connect Industry With Federal Program

The US Department of Agriculture's Office of Seafood, now four months old, has signed an agreement with the University of Maine's Local Catch Network to help connect fishing communities with federal programs and services — and to learn from the industry about what it actually needs.

The partnership is designed as a two-way exchange: the Office of Seafood gains direct outreach into fishing communities and seafood businesses that could benefit from USDA programs, while the industry gains a clearer picture of what the office can...

The Kingfish Company Reports Positive H1 EBITDA as Sales, Margins Improve

The Kingfish Company, a sustainable land-based producer of yellowtail kingfish, on Friday reported preliminary, unaudited first-half 2026 financial results, with operational EBITDA returning to positive territory as profitability improved across the business.

The company said stronger sales volumes, higher revenue per kilogram and lower farming costs drove the improvement in the first six months of the year. Sales volume rose 13% to 1,470 metric tons from 1,301 tons a year earlier, while revenue increased 16% to €19.8 million...

Pokeworks Builds Momentum in First Half of 2026 with Franchise Growth and Menu Innovation

Pokeworks, the largest and fastest-growing fast-casual poke brand known for its fresh, customizable offerings, is reporting strong sales and transactions momentum for the first half of 2026. Driven by new store openings, newly signed development agreements, and continued menu innovation, the brand is building on its growth trajectory entering the second half of the year.

First-Half 2026 Development Highlights

Since the start of the year, Pokeworks opened five new locations and signed new multi-unit franchise...

FDA Moves to Make GRAS Notifications Mandatory, With Implications for Seafood Processors

The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would fundamentally change how food companies, including seafood processors, handle ingredients and processing aids that have long been used without formal FDA review.

Published in the Federal Register on August 11, the proposal would make notification to FDA mandatory for substances currently marketed under the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) designation. Under the existing system, companies can independently conclude that a substance is safe for a particular use and introduce it into commerce without ever notifying FDA...

USDA Returns to Market for Catfish and Atlantic Pollock Products

The US Department of Agriculture has issued two new solicitations for frozen seafood products, seeking 4.41 million pounds of catfish fillets and 11,700 cases of Atlantic pollock fillets for domestic food distribution programs — continuing the accelerated government procurement activity Expana has been tracking this year.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service issued both solicitations on August 13 under its Section 32 and entitlement purchasing authority. Bids are due by 1:00 p.m. CT on August 31, and USDA will announce contract awards by September 14. Deliveries are scheduled between November 1...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

Expana's Weekly Top 10 highlights major developments across the industry as told by Expana journalists. This issue tracks the forces moving agri‑food markets now: the FDA’s proposed GRAS notification rule could reshape feed and seafood ingredient use; the US–Iran tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are lifting oil and shipping risk; Colombia’s earthquake adds uncertainty to already-thin coffee stocks; and tariff disputes plus transshipment enforcement are raising trade pressure. All that and more, below. This list is in no particular order.

Find archived recaps here. 

10. On Aug. 10, the FDA proposed...

Trump Ends NOAA Funding for Annual Arctic Report Card, But Says Data Will Still Be Collected

The Trump administration has announced it is withdrawing federal support for the Arctic Report Card at a time when the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth.

Kim Doster, communications director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a statement saying the agency would no longer coordinate the annual report, without explaining the decision. "Coordination of the 2026 Arctic Report Card will not be facilitated through NOAA," Doster told the New York Times...

NOAA Scientists Find Pacific Capelin Can Spawn Multiple Times, Upending Assumptions About Key Forage

New research from NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center has found the first evidence that Pacific capelin are capable of repeat spawning — a discovery that could meaningfully change how scientists assess the population resilience of one of the most ecologically important forage fish in Alaska's marine ecosystem.

Capelin were previously understood to follow a pattern similar to Pacific salmon: spawning once and dying. The new study, published August 12, found that many Pacific capelin can in fact spawn in multiple seasons (iteroparity), suggesting the species may be...

ANALYSIS: Canada H1 Lobster Export Volumes Decline Amid Tight Supply

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, overall lobster export volumes from Canada to the rest of the world declined year‑on‑year (YOY) in the first half of the year. Total exports amounted to 37,428 MT between January and June, 5.6% below the same period last year. This total includes four HS codes describing frozen, live and preserved Homarus Americanus lobster. By value, the decline was smaller: year‑to‑date export receipts reached 1.38 million CAD, a 2.7% slip YOY.

Founder, Management Team and Industrial Investors Acquire Norway’s First Seafood from Insula

Norway’s First Seafood is shifting into a new ownership chapter after a decade with Insula AS as its majority shareholder. Founder Andreas Sundnes, the company’s executive management team, and a group of industrial investors have acquired ownership of First Seafood, according to a company release.

"Together, we have built an international seafood company with skilled employees, modern production facilities, strong customer relationships, and a broad market position," the company said. The new ownership group added that it is taking over "with great...

Russia Increases Total Allowable Catch of Kamchatka Crab in Barents Sea

Russia has increased the total allowable catch (TAC) of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea for the current year, while also expanding scientific survey work on the species.

Under a recent order from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the TAC was raised from 12,690 MT to 13,960 MT — an increase of roughly 10%. Most of the catch is expected to be directed toward export markets, with China identified as the priority destination.

This month, Russian fisheries scientists launched a comprehensive trawl survey of Kamchatka crab in the Barents Sea...

Canada, US Shadow Chinese Snow Dragon Research Vessels in Alaskan Arctic 

Late last month a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 surveillance plane joined American Coast Guard and Army personnel shadowing two Chinese research vessels Xue Long and Xue Long 2 as they transited the northern Bering Sea. It was the first time this year that China’s well-equipped research vessels, known as Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, entered the area.

Defense and monitoring capabilities are ramping up in both countries as awareness...