IN BRIEF - South Korean frozen pollock imports up 14% in September
SOUTH KOREA
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
In September, South Korea imported 17,127 tons of frozen pollack, marking a 14% increase compared to 14,964 tons in the same period last year.
From January to September, cumulative imports totaled 105,136 tons, marking a slight decline of 1% compared to 106,596 tons during the same period in 2023. Frozen pollock comprised approximately 16% of the total seafood imports, which reached 651,137 tons by the end of September.
Geographically, 99% of frozen pollock imports (103,720 tons) originated from Russia, while the United States contributed 1,289 tons and China 127 tons. Among these, China had the highest import price at USD 1.61/kg, followed by the U.S. at USD 1.25/kg, and Russia at USD 0.96/kg.
In September 2024, the import value of frozen pollock reached USD 16 million, reflecting a 12% increase from USD 14.27 million in September 2023. However, the cumulative import value from January to September saw a 10% decrease, totaling USD 101.09 million, down from USD 112.85 million the previous year. The average import price was USD 0.96/kg, a 9% decline from USD 1.06/kg in 2023. While the volume of frozen pollock imports is rising, the decreasing import prices and overall value are raising questions about future trends in the market.
For reference, wholesale distribution prices for frozen pollock in Korea are approximately KRW 39,500 for the Russian-origin (7-count) variety and around KRW 29,500 for the 8-count variety.
Competitive costs, a well-established processing industry, and European demand for ready-to-cook products explain why Russian fillets (especially Alaska pollock and cod) maintain their place in the supply chain. The debate is reopened: is raising tariffs enough, or will a broader ban be necessary?
In the European debate on seafood imports from Russia, fillets are the most troubling indicator. They are not a niche product, but a key format for distribution and processing: portioned, standardized, easy to freeze, and perfect for a Europe that is increasingly consuming processed products (breaded, oven-ready, and ready-to-eat).
The Catalan handline fishery for wild bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) has begun the full assessment process to certify its catches under the MSC Fisheries Standard. This audit will be conducted by the independent certifier DNV, assessing the three principles that govern the standard: healthy fish stocks, minimizing the impact on the marine environment as a whole, and an effective fisheries management system.
The fishery is represented by the Catalan National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds (Federació Nacional Catalana de Confraries de Pescadors) and uses handlines as its sole fishing gear. In 2024, the fishery recorded a total catch of 56 tons of bluefin tuna.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Scottish salmon exports to India could grow to a value of £30 million per year in the next 10 years and deliver up to £131m during that time, new projections by sector trade body Salmon Scotland show.
Producers are gearing up for a new drive into the market after last year’s UK-India trade deal promised to remove the tariffs that have held exports back.Scottish salmon currently faces a 33% import duty, but that barrier is expected to be removed this year when the agreement comes into force.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
At the end of 2025, the Council of the European Union authorised the European Commission to open negotiations with the United Kingdom on a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement – an important step that could reshape the trading landscape for live bivalve molluscs.
In response, the Market Advisory Council (MAC) submitted detailed advice to DG MARE outlining how shellfish should be addressed within the framework. The recommendations reflect both industry priorities and the need to maintain robust public-health and environmental safeguards.
The Norwegian aquaculture technology company EcoFishCircle AS(EFC) has signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding to deliver a full-scope mRAS (Modular Recirculating Aquaculture System) and the development of a land-based fish farming facility in Saudi Arabia.
The project is designed to provide a production capacity of 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon per year. The cost was not disclosed.The project is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, where the government has ambitions to make the country a major player in land-based aquaculture. EFC will be a technology partner and provide operational support.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s fisheries sector posted a strong surplus in the first quarter of 2026, with total production and reserves projected to reach 3.57 million tons, according to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
“The production and reserve quantity combined remain higher than demand and consumption,” said Machmud (pictured), Acting Director General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products, during a virtual press conference on February 19, 2026.
Between January and March, output included 2.05 million tons of cultivated fish and 1.52 million tons of captured fish, surpassing domestic consumption demand of 1.94 million tons.
The surplus can be stored in 2,287 cold storage units nationwide, with a total capacity of 899,178 tons. Of these, 2,035 units are privately owned, while the remainder are government-operated.
The government also confirmed sufficient supply across eight regions during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, exceeding demand by more than 100 percent.
The Government of Japan, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched a two-year project titled “Development of a Sustainable Fishery Value Chain in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)”, signed in 2025.
The initiative aims to strengthen the productivity and resilience of the aquaculture and fisheries sectors in BARMM, one of the regions with the greatest potential in the Philippine fish industry. By developing sustainable local value chains, the project supports small-scale producers through capacity-building activities, promotes alternative high-value species and value-adding processes, and enhances stakeholders’ knowledge and technical skills.
As part of ongoing monitoring efforts, First Secretary and Agriculture Attaché Akasaka Hidenori visited project sites in Tawi-Tawi Province on February 10, 2026. During the visit, he met with representatives from the BARMM government, local government units (LGUs), and project beneficiaries to assess progress and exchange insights on strengthening the region’s fisheries sector.
The research vessel Árni Friðriksson has completed a week-long capelin survey off the northwest coast of Iceland, focusing on spawning migrations and stock abundance. Survey coverage extended from west of Dohrnbank along the continental slope off the Westfjords to Skagagrunn.
At the same time, the vessel Þórunn Þórðardóttir gathered acoustic data during a hydrographic survey examining ocean conditions around Iceland in February. Scientists reported almost no capelin north of Iceland. A small quantity of mature capelin was detected near the continental slope at Bardagrunn, while immature fish were observed farther offshore near drift ice off the Westfjords.
Researchers estimate that the bulk of the 328 thousand tonnes of capelin recorded northwest of Iceland in January has now migrated eastward, moving clockwise around the country. The stock is expected to spawn in coastal waters in the south and west in March.
The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute has announced no further capelin surveys will be conducted this winter.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has welcomed the expansion of Iceland Foods’ certified seafood range, signalling a growing shift among UK retailers to make responsibly farmed seafood both accessible and affordable.
Launching on 10 February, Iceland’s expanded selection of ASC-labelled products reflects rising consumer demand for seafood that protects both people and the environment — without carrying a premium price tag.
The latest rollout increases Iceland’s total ASC-certified range to 15 products, adding newly certified salmon, seabass, scallops and prawns. Several items will be included in multi-buy promotions, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to keeping sustainable choices within reach of everyday shoppers.
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