The global seafood industry recorded several significant developments between October 30 and November 4, 2026, spanning U.S. trade regulations, seafood consumption trends, international supply chains, and processing investments.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) in its November 5, 2026 roundup, key developments included updated anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese shrimp, stronger pangasius consumption in the United States, rising demand for convenient seafood products in the United Kingdom, and changing seafood trade patterns across Asia
On November 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued the final results of the administrative review of anti-dumping duties on frozen warmwater shrimp imported from Vietnam for the period from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025 (POR20).
According to the results, DOC determined final dumping margins of 10.71% for Fimex Group (Sao Ta), 6.36% for STAPIMEX, and 7.59% for 27 companies that were not individually selected for examination but qualified for a separate rate. For 131 companies under the Vietnam-wide Entity, the rate of 25.76% remained unchanged in this review.
On November 2, the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) was reported to have filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), requesting a review of allegations involving the use of forced labor in the supply chain of India's Nekkanti Sea Foods.
The petition cited Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act, which concerns unfair trade practices. Nekkanti denied the allegations. The ITC has 30 days to decide whether to initiate an investigation.
This remains a petition, not a finding of violation or an import ban. The case indicates that labor conditions in supply chains may become a significant issue in trade disputes involving the shrimp industry.
On November 3, newly released U.S. seafood consumption data for 2024 showed that per capita consumption declined by 3.7% to 8.35 kg. However, pangasius consumption increased by 35.2% to approximately 0.33 kg per person, ranking sixth among the 10 most-consumed seafood species.
Shrimp consumption reached approximately 2.22 kg per person, down 3.9%. These figures reflect consumption in 2024 and do not directly represent purchasing demand in 2026, but they show that pangasius has improved its position in the U.S. seafood consumption structure.
On November 3, Thai Union announced third-quarter 2026 revenue of THB 35.7 billion, up 3.4% year on year. However, revenue from its frozen seafood and feed business declined by 4% to THB 9.9 billion, while sales volume fell by 10.6%.
The company reported weak shrimp demand in the U.S. In contrast, revenue from value-added products increased by 19.5%, while pet food revenue rose by 10.4%.
The results reflect diverging performance between conventional frozen shrimp and higher-value processed products.
On November 1, the Protocol Upgrading the Peru–China Free Trade Agreement officially entered into force. The agreement improves provisions relating to rules of origin, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation, transportation, and supply chains.
Giant squid and fishmeal are two significant product categories in seafood trade between the two countries. During the first six months of 2026, China imported approximately USD 1 billion worth of seafood products from Peru.
The agreement may facilitate Peruvian squid and fishmeal exports to China, but this does not mean that all products will receive immediate tariff reductions or that customs clearance times will automatically be shortened.
Data released in late October and early November showed that during the first nine months of 2026, China imported 565,491 metric tons of pollock and related products from Russia, valued at USD 1.07 billion. Russia accounted for 93.6% of China's pollock import volume.
For cod, Russia supplied 72,679 metric tons, valued at USD 581.7 million, accounting for 61.4% of China's import volume.
However, Russian pollock surimi exports to China declined by 29% to 17,532 metric tons. This indicates different trade trends between raw fish materials and processed products.
Japanese customs data analyzed on October 30 showed that Vietnam exported 1,365 metric tons of crab and crab products to Japan, valued at approximately USD 29.7 million, ranking second by value after Russia.
Of this total, processed and canned crab products accounted for approximately 1,240 metric tons, valued at USD 29.1 million, representing the majority of export value.
This is a positive signal for Vietnam's processed crab products in the Japanese market.
On November 3, South Korea added six Russian establishments and vessels to its list of entities approved to export seafood, effective October 30.
During the first nine months of 2026, Russia exported approximately 5,000 metric tons of pollock fillets to Japan, valued at USD 18 million, up 15% in volume and 30% in value.
Russia also continued to introduce further-processed marine fish, squid, and pollock roe products to the Chinese market.
On October 31, Argentina's fishing and processing industry reported that hake sales in the EU increased by approximately 10%, while wild shrimp prices received support amid the implementation of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement.
On November 2, Brazil's Minister of Fisheries expressed expectations that the EU would soon lift its longstanding suspension of Brazilian seafood imports.
However, the EU has not been officially confirmed to have reopened its market to Brazilian seafood. The competitiveness of South American suppliers in the EU requires continued monitoring by product and specific tariff rate.
Peru is preparing a giant squid fishing survey in November to assess fishery resources. This activity does not yet mean that large-scale commercial fishing will resume.
At the Qingdao seafood exhibition in late October, offer prices for 2–4 kg squid bodies were approximately USD 2,100 per metric ton, while 1–2 kg squid tentacles were offered at approximately USD 2,700 per metric ton. These were indicative offer prices, not confirmed transaction prices.
Limited supply in Peru may continue to put pressure on squid processors that rely on imported raw materials.
In early November, Russia's pollock catch reached approximately 1.97 million metric tons, while Pacific herring catches reached approximately 612,000 metric tons, both increasing year on year.
In Russia's domestic market, pollock prices declined while herring prices increased, with herring prices in the Far East at approximately RUB 103–105 per kilogram.
These prices refer to domestic wholesale prices, not export prices to China or Vietnam.
A market report analyzed on November 2 showed that the retail sales value of seafood in the UK increased by 4.4% during the 12 weeks ending in June 2026, exceeding the 2.3% growth recorded by the overall food market.
The chilled seafood category grew by more than 6%, farmed salmon increased by 8.5%, and internationally inspired ready-to-eat seafood products grew by 13.6%.
This trend creates opportunities for the development of convenient processed products made from shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, and octopus.
Guolian Aquatic's financial results for the first nine months of 2026 showed revenue of RMB 2.091 billion, down 19.04%, while net profit reached RMB 38.62 million.
However, net profit excluding non-recurring items was only approximately RMB 1.47 million, indicating that profitability from regular business operations remained low.
The development reflects revenue and profitability pressures facing a major Chinese seafood processing company.
Aurora Coop reached an agreement to acquire Mar & Terra's tilapia production assets in Mato Grosso do Sul, including farming facilities, a feed mill, and a processing plant.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. This is a notable development in the trend toward integrated tilapia supply chains in Brazil, a market that also plays an important role for Vietnamese pangasius.
In late October, Skretting introduced new shrimp feed lines for nursery and grow-out stages. Benchmark Genetics introduced BenchTrace, a DNA-based technology used to determine pedigree relationships in shrimp breeding programs.
These technologies aim to improve broodstock and seed quality, feed efficiency, and production management. Their actual commercial effectiveness needs to be evaluated under specific farming conditions.
Source: Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Điểm tin thủy sản thế giới từ ngày 30/10 tới 4/11/2026, published November 5, 2026.
