April 13, 2026
Day 45 of Iran War: Oil Prices Surge Above $100 as US Tightens Control Over Iranian Gulf
The United States said it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, tightening control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran over the weekend ended without agreement.
US President Trump indicated that US forces would intercept vessels in international waters that had paid what he described as illegal tolls to Iran.
Iran condemned the move as “piracy” and warned it could retaliate against Gulf ports, signaling escalating tensions with no quick reopening of the...
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Day 45 of Iran War: Oil Prices Surge Above $100 as US Tightens Control Over Iranian Gulf
The United States said it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, tightening control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran over the weekend ended without agreement.
US President Trump indicated that US forces would intercept vessels in international waters that had paid what he described as illegal tolls to Iran.
Iran condemned the move as “piracy” and warned it could retaliate against Gulf ports, signaling escalating tensions with no quick reopening of the...
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ANALYSIS: Exchange Rate Relief Cushions US Shrimp Farmgate Costs Despite Tariff Pressures
Farmgate shrimp prices adjusted for yield and exchange rates present a more stable picture than replacement cost headlines suggest, but the story shifts dramatically once tariffs enter the equation. While origin-level costs in India track near mid-2022 levels even with current tariffs included, US importers face significantly compressed margins as replacement costs squeeze profitability across product forms...
Full Story »Coast Guard Removes Press Release on American Seafoods Pollock Roe Seizure
The US Coast Guard removed a press release from its website detailing the seizure of $65,000 worth of Alaska pollock roe from American Seafoods' catcher-processor Northern Eagle.
The Coast Guard told Alaska's NBC-2 KTUU that it removed the posts to prevent "unintended consequences, distractions from NOAA's ongoing investigation, or confusion about the compliance record within the Alaska pollock fishery."
The USCG said it pushed back on the case's conclusions, noting the issue shouldn't be viewed as evidence of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing in one...
Full Story »Lithuanian Vičiūnai, French Frais Embal Win Top 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards
Vičiūnai Group of Lithuania and Frais Embal of France captured the top prizes at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Global Awards during Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, beating 35 finalists from 16 countries.
Vičiūnai Group took the Best Retail Product award for its Smoked Herring Slices – Natural Flavor, a ready-to-eat product featuring simple ingredients and a smoky taste. Judges praised the well-balanced herring and smoke flavors, precise slicing and packing, and eye-catching packaging design.
Expana caught up with Vičiūnai at Seafood Expo North America last month...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Downward Pressure on Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Prices Through Week 15
The Norwegian Atlantic farm salmon price reached its highest point in week 11 (March 16) of 2026 to date and has since been moving downward. According to market participants, the demand remained irregular and somewhat fair. More recently, week 15 (April 13) closed with a weak market undertone, following the pattern seen in previous weeks. On the supply side, market participants reported that supplies were fully adequate to meet current lackluster buying interest, contributing to further downward pressure on Norwegian prices...
Full Story »Governor Appoints Three to Alaska Board of Fish While State Legislators Express Escalating Concern
For most of his two terms, Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued a press release in late March or early April on appointments to the state’s Board of Fisheries, which, along with the Board of Game, oversees the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Not this year. Almost a month ago, Dunleavy penned an identical letter to two new appointees and one incumbent, thanking them for accepting the appointment to the seven-member board.
The two new appointments, Josh Hayes and Blair Hickson, are replacing...
Full Story »Northern Cod Enters MSC Sustainability Assessment After Decades-Long Recovery
Newfoundland's Northern cod stock has officially entered the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment process for sustainability certification, marking a significant milestone for the fishery that collapsed in the 1990s and led to the MSC's creation.
The announcement came during the Northern Cod Fishery Improvement Project's update at the Global Seafood Expo in Barcelona on April 20, building on positive momentum from recent stock assessments showing the fishery's remarkable recovery.
Earlier this month, Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed the stock had grown...
Full Story »Circana Forecasts 3% Foodservice Growth Across US and Europe in 2026
Circana projects US and European foodservice spend will grow 3% in 2026, as evolving consumer behaviors reshape demand across channels, dayparts and formats.
Speaking at Alimentaria, VP Foodservice Europe Edurne Uranga noted that while the two regions share common trends, they differ structurally. “The reality is more nuanced. The two markets share common dynamics, particularly the blurring of channels as new touchpoints emerge to capture immediate consumption occasions, but diverge in important structural ways.”
In the US, convenience stores are driving disruption...
Full Story »7-Eleven Recalls Sandwiches Across Western Canada Over Listeria Concerns
7-Eleven has recalled various sandwich products across Western Canada due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a food recall warning posted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on April 14.
The recall affects sandwiches sold in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan provinces and was triggered by 7-Eleven Canada. No illnesses linked to the recalled products have been reported as of publication.
The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation that may lead to additional recalls and is verifying that the recalled products have been removed from...
Full Story »FDA Issues Warning Letter to Ocean Group Over Multi-Facility Listeria Contamination
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter on March 3 to Los Angeles-based Ocean Group Inc. following inspections at four seafood processing facilities that revealed widespread Listeria monocytogenes contamination and serious sanitation violations.
The agency found the same strain of L. monocytogenes across Ocean Group's Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Dallas facilities between May and September 2025, with whole genome sequencing linking the pathogen to clinical isolates from ill people dating back to 2017. The contamination represents a "resident pathogen...
Full Story »Online Grocery Set to Drive Majority of US Grocery Growth Through 2028
Online grocery shopping has firmly entered the mainstream, according to a new report from FMI – The Food Industry Association and NielsenIQ, which positions e-commerce as a primary driver of future grocery growth.
"Ecommerce is poised for extensive growth," said Jack O’Leary, director of ecommerce strategic insights for NIQ. "With online grocery sales increasing at a projected 11.6% annual rate through 2028 and already accounting for about one-fifth of total grocery spending, success now hinges on how well retailers connect digital and physical...
Full Story »Sam’s Club Launches Enhanced Express Delivery, Fueling Continued eCommerce Growth
Sam’s Club, a leading membership retail club, has launched an enhanced tier to its popular Express delivery, enabling members to go from checkout to doorstep delivery on thousands of in-club items in as little as an hour—often faster—with no minimum purchase and at the same price as in the club.
“Members love our three hours or less Express delivery, but they told us they wanted an even faster option—so, we delivered,” said Greg Pulsifer, Senior Vice President, eCommerce at Sam’s...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: EU‑UK Shrimp Imports Fall 26% in February
According to European Commission data, February shrimp imports in the EU‑UK region fell sharply following a seasonal decline that began in December. The EU and UK traded 44,133 metric tonnes of warm‑ and cold‑water shrimp in February, a 26.1% drop from January and 4.8% year‑on‑year.
The decline reflects weaker demand at the start of the year, following large shrimp orders in Q4 across all UK and EU markets. Many importers also reported remaining local inventories that slowed the Q1 refill process...
Full Story »Congress Examines China's IUU Fishing Impact on US Seafood Markets
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) co-chaired a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing on April 16 examining how China's illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices harm American fishermen and enable forced labor in global seafood supply chains.
The hearing, titled "Dark Nets, Illicit Labor—Confronting China's IUU Fishing and Seafood Supply Chain," featured testimony from Ian Urbina of the Outlaw Ocean Project, who detailed how Chinese distant-water fleets use forced labor and illegal fishing methods to create unfair competition for US fishermen...
Full Story »Japan's Salmon Imports Increased 18% to 24,987 Tons in February, 15% to JPY 33.5 Billion
According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance, February imports of fresh and frozen salmon and trout increased by 18% year-on-year to 24,987 tons, and their value increased by 16% to 33.5 billion yen ($211.5 million). Imports of key items, such as frozen Chilean coho salmon and frozen Russian sockeye salmon, increased, Minato Shimbun reported.
February imports of frozen Chilean coho salmon increased by 11% year-on-year to 13,541 tons. While imports have been on an upward trend since last...
Full Story »Russia Eyes Higher Fish Export Revenue on Rising Prices Despite Flat Volumes
Russia expects a significant increase in revenue from fish exports this year, driven mainly by rising prices for Russian fish in major export markets.
According to Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, while export volumes will likely remain similar to 2025 levels, their value is expected to be significantly higher.
"Since the beginning of 2026, Russia has been 11% ahead in terms of export value for its fish: Last year, we exported fish and seafood for a total sum of $6.1 billion...
Full Story »Alaska Seafood Industry Seeks Extension of EU CATCH Deadline Amid Trade Disruption Concerns
A coalition of US and European seafood trade groups is urging the European Union to extend the July 10, 2026, deadline for compliance with updated EU CATCH certification requirements, warning that current traceability demands could effectively ban Alaska seafood from EU markets.
The coalition includes Seafood Europe, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), At-Sea Processors Association (APA), National Fisheries Institute (NFI), and Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA).
The groups cite a "core challenge" in requirements that each imported shipment provide traceability of each harvest vessel's...
Full Story »ANALYSIS: Halibut Squeeze as Record-Low Pacific Quotas Meet Atlantic's Characteristic Volatility
The 2026 Pacific halibut season has opened at historically elevated price levels, with initial market values closely aligned with where the 2025 season finished. This firm start comes as the 2026 coastwide quota was set at 29.33 million pounds, the lowest total allowable catch in the more than 100-year history of the fishery, reinforcing an already tight supply outlook. U.S. allocations were mostly unchanged from last year, while British Columbia’s quota was reduced by about 7 percent, reflecting continued stock concerns under the International Pacific Halibut Commission's...
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US House Moves the FISH Act Out of Natural Resources, Along with Seven Other Bills
Tuesday, the House Committee on Natural Resources reported the FISH Act, a bill that will strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“House Committee on Natural Resources members are dedicated to enacting commonsense policies to support rural communities across America,” remarked Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)
“Today’s markup advanced legislation that will ….combat illegal fishing activities… I look forward to working with the sponsors to advance these bills through the House,” said Westerman...
Full Story »The Retail Rundown: Retailers Balance Premium Cuts and Value Picks Ahead of Mother’s Day
Early signs of grilling season are emerging, with retailers striking a balance between premium beef offerings and value-focused pork and chicken to draw in shoppers. At the same time, they’re preparing to compete for share during one of the year’s biggest foodservice-driven occasions: Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day, falling on May 10 this year, is a holiday typically dominated by restaurants, with 63% of consumers planning a special outing and total spending projected to hit a record $38 billion, according to the National Retail...
Full Story »For 2026 Norway is Turning its Marketing Focus Away From the US to China. Here’s Why.
At their annual meeting last January, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) announced a shift in their marketing focus away from the United States and towards China, supported by a new Trends Report.
The next few months' export data illustrated the new policy. NSC released their report, “The Year of China” recently with detailed demographics and trends that support the new policy.
The report notes that China’s four tier-one cities — Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen — each with populations in excess of 18 million people...
Full Story »Private Label Reaches New Milestone Across Europe’s Biggest Grocery Markets
Circana reports private label has reached a new milestone in Europe, hitting a 50% unit share across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK for the first time. The gain reflects sustained pressure from higher living costs, with store brands steadily expanding share since 2021 by more than three percentage points.
Circana’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth Insights, Ananda Roy, said, "Supermarket private label brands have spent the last decade becoming powerful brands in their own right. Given that a normal shopping...
Full Story »Andfjord Salmon Secures $42 Million in Funding, Reports Strong Biological Performance
Norwegian land-based salmon farmer Andfjord Salmon announced a strategic partnership with Eidsfjord Sjøfarm and is raising a minimum NOK 300 million through a private placement at NOK 27.50 per share, with Eidsfjord committing an additional NOK 100 million investment.
The partnership includes substantial post-smolt deliveries from Andfjord to Eidsfjord in 2026 and 2027, with approximately 1 million planned for 2026 alone. The agreement also secures Andfjord's smolt sourcing and processing capacity through Holmøy Havbruk.
Andfjord reported excellent biological and operational metrics...
Full Story »Day 54 of Iran War: Ceasefire Extended as US Maintains Naval Blockade
US President Donald Trump extended the Iran ceasefire to allow more time for Tehran to submit a proposal and for negotiations to continue, while keeping a US naval blockade on Iranian ports in place. Iran called the blockade a violation of the truce and said it would not negotiate under pressure.
Tensions remain high across the region, with continued violence in the West Bank and southern Lebanon despite ceasefires. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely constrained, heightening concerns over global oil supplies, as both sides blame...
Full Story »Pokeworks Launches Poke Bombs as Growth Momentum Continues
Pokeworks, a fast-casual poke brand, is launching Poke Bombs, a new menu item featuring sweet inari tofu pockets filled with white rice, topped with fresh poke and finished with a soy glaze. The lineup spotlights the flavors of ahi tuna, salmon, surimi and lobster.
"We're seeing more guests looking for food that keeps up with their day," said Mike Wu, Co-Founder and Head of Concept at Pokeworks. "Poke Bombs make it easy to grab something fresh and satisfying, whether you're on your...
Full Story »Red Lobster Revives Endless Shrimp Promotion
Red Lobster officially announced Monday the return of its Endless Shrimp promotion, bringing back the offer that contributed to the chain's 2024 bankruptcy filing.
The limited-time promotion returns as part of the brand's renewed focus on customer feedback, according to CEO Damola Adamolekun.
"Endless Shrimp has been a part of Red Lobster's legacy for 20 years and our guests have never stopped asking for it," Adamolekun said. "We're excited to bring it back, for a limited time, in a way that works for our business today and honors what made it special...
Full Story »Salmar Founder's Firm Takes 8.7% Måsøval Stake Ahead of Potential Sale
The Witzøe family has acquired an 8.7% stake in Norwegian salmon farmer Måsøval for NOK 374 million, purchasing the shareholding from Odin Fondene through its Kverva investment firm, according to Norwegian financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.
The move makes Kverva the second-largest shareholder in Måsøval, behind the founding family's 70% controlling interest, and has fueled analyst speculation that Gustav Witzøe-controlled Salmar may be positioning for a full acquisition of its regional competitor.
"Many are probably interested in the company...
Full Story »Mowi Reports Record Q1 Harvest of 136,000 Tonnes, Beats Guidance by 6%
Norwegian salmon giant Mowi posted record first-quarter harvest volumes of 136,000 tonnes gutted weight, representing 26% growth from 108,000 tonnes in Q1 2025 and exceeding the company's guidance of 128,000 tonnes.
The harvest beat Bloomberg consensus expectations of 128,118 tonnes, marking Mowi's strongest Q1 performance on record.
Norway led regional production with 75,500 tonnes, followed by Chile at 21,000 tonnes and Scotland at 20,500 tonnes. Canada contributed 8,000 tonnes, while Ireland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland (Arctic Fish) added 2,000, 3,000 and 6,000 tonnes respectively...
Full Story »2025 Global Feed Production Rose 2.9% to 1.44 Bln T - Alltech
Global feed production climbed to an estimated 1.44 billion MT in 2025, representing a 2.9% increase year-on-year (YOY) or by 40.136 million MT, according to Alltech's 2026 Agri-Food Outlook released on April 21.
The data, drawn from Alltech's 15th annual global feed production survey, analyzed compound feed production and prices from 142 countries and 38,837 feed mills during late 2025.
The top three feed-producing nations were China, the US, and Brazil, combining to produce 47.7% of all global feed tonnage.
Full Story »Kroger Spotlights E-commerce Growth with Online Deal Days Push
The Kroger Co. is leaning further into e-commerce as it launches its “Online Deal Days” promotion, pairing limited-time discounts with new data showing continued consumer demand for speed, value and convenience in online grocery shopping.
Running from April 22 through May 5, the event is aimed at driving digital engagement across Pickup and Delivery. Offers include $30 off a first Pickup or Delivery order of $75 or more, free delivery on orders over $50, and digital discounts on...
Full Story »Venezuela Says MMPA Blue Crab Process Complete, Eyes US Market Return
Venezuela's Ministry of Fisheries announced on April 16 that it has successfully completed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) comparability registration process with NOAA Fisheries, potentially clearing the way for resumed blue crab exports to the US market after a three-month embargo that devastated the country's fishing industry.
The Venezuelan government claims the registration "ensures that Venezuelan seafood products meet the rigorous quality and sustainability standards required for export to the North American market," according to an April 16 statement from the Ministry of...
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