“Prices for cod and haddock products ex-China have reduced because the H&G price dropped," a UK-based buyer told IntraFish.
“I get the feeling that the Chinese do not have full order books at present and may possibly discount on prices to get orders. The only concern is if the Chinese discount further, how can they do this, and could start cutting corners from the agreed specification.”
The prices for H&G are down since January by the same level as fillet prices, by between 10 percent to 15 percent, said a top executive from a Norwegian fishing company. “Haddock has had the same price development as cod.”
From 2007 to 2012 the total Barents Sea cod quota increased by close to 70 percent and the haddock quota by more than 110 percent, which has, of course, had an impact on the market, he told IntraFish.
Fishing for cod and haddock has been good this year for all nations fishing in the Barents Sea, resulting in big landings over a short period of time. “This has influenced the market both for fillets and H&G.”
The exchange rate between the Norwegian krone and the British pound is accentuating the price drop for fishermen.
“As regards prices for cod fillets, the main market is still the United Kingdom, and the prices for fillets have gone down by 10 percent to 12 percent in pounds since early January until now. In addition to this we have a strong Norwegian kroner and a weak pound, so this adds another 3 percent.”
So the price for cod fillets back to Norwegian fishermen in NOK is down between 12 and 15 percent in only two months.
Pacific to follow Atlantic?
Meanwhile, the Pacific cod price situation has stabilized for now, but a bevy of market factors make the future uncertain.
For Alaska-caught pacific cod, prices increased by 5 percent to 10 percent over the course of last year and have stabilized at that level, Rob Rierson, president and CEO of Canadian seafood supplier Tradex Foods, told IntraFish.
Russia-caught pacific cod has also stabilized but is at a slightly lower level than last year, independent cod trader Daniel told IntraFish.
H&G pacific cod from Alaska is selling for $3,600 (€2,714) - $3,700 (€2,790) per metric ton, an unseasonably high level. It is currently $450 (€339.3) per metric ton higher than Atlantic cod, which is typically more expensive, he said.
But with inventories high, those high prices aren't likely to last, Rierson said.
Processors have been trying to keep H&G prices from coming down by trying to limit supply, either by producing more fillets, and thereby reducing H&G inventories, or through other means.
“Some plants are telling fishermen not to fish because it will push down prices,” Rierson said in Tradex’s weekly market insight video. However, “if fishermen are hungry, they’ll head out anyway," he said.
Paul Gilliland, senior vice president for Clipper Seafoods, told IntraFish the high inventories may be more of a perception than a reality, but he too said processors are trying to decrease inventories from what they were last year. The effort is “not an unusual thing at all when there is an increase in supply.”
Lower prices on similar species are also putting downward pressure on pacific cod prices, such as Alaska pollock.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
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