Barents Sea cod stocks have improved significantly over the past few years and are the largest in decades. The 2012 quota is up 8 percent over 2011, to 750,000 metric tons.
At the same time, the haddock quota has increased by 5 percent, to 318,000 metric tons.
Because of this great supply story and weak markets, especially the troubled European Union, industry sources are skeptical about future price development.
“It is difficult to say what will happen for the next months,” said the managing director of a Norway-based trader, talking about future price development up or down.
“It depends all on how the market for the ready products in Europe and the United States acts, and especially as the market in Europe is slow now,” he told IntraFish.
“I am very uncertain, I must admit,” said an executive with a large cod trader.
“There is very little H&G in the market, so normally prices would have started to increase now,” he told IntraFish. “They are not, so this could be a sign that the market are not working properly.”
Prices will stay at around $3,350 (€2,706) to $3,400 (€2,746) CIP China, “even with the shortage of supply for the next couple of months,” he said. “The euro has weakened 7 percent against the US dollar, so I think this could also have some impact.”
The executive pointed to the situation in Spain and Portugal, both large cod buyers. Not only does the dollar and euro exchange rate make business tough, the banking system is freezing up in these troubled Eurozone members, limiting options for companies.
“Portugal and Spain might have an even bigger problem as their banking systems are not working, and there is a lack of funds,” he said. “There certainly seems to be very few good news stories coming from that direction.”
The sales director of a large Norwegian company also warned on the markets in southern Europe.
However, it seems Portugal, the largest market for Norwegian cod, seems to keep buying, he said.
“I am amazed the prices are at this level,” said this sales director. “I don’t see that they can move up a lot, the processors simply can’t get the higher prices from retailers.”
The predicted increased supply of farmed salmon onto the market later in the year could also have an impact on general cod prices, he told IntraFish.
“If salmon is very cheap -- which it looks likely to be in September – that could impact demand for cod. Retailers will promote on salmon.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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