The production of PBO fillets though Feb. 8 is 8,600 metric tons, down 21.81% year-on-year. The loss of the price premium from being the only Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery after the Russian Sea of Okhotsk fishery was certified last year is impacting US production.
Prices for PBO fillets, the main market for which is the European fish finger processors in Germany, France and the UK, are down at around $2,950 per metric ton, depending on delivery terms and quantity. B season prices in 2013 were around $3,050/mt, with the A season last year at around $3,200/mt.
The last time the prices were at this level was the B season of 2007, before they went on a rapid climb, hitting $4,500/mt in the A season of 2009.
US catchers are producing more deepskin blocks, with production at 8,900t already, up 64.81% y-o-y. Surimi production so far is 16,900t, up 3% y-o-y. Surimi prices to Japan are trending up.
The price of Alaskan pollock surimi bound for the Japanese market for the current 2014 A season has roughly settled at JPY 30-40 higher than that for the 2013 B season, buoyed by the uncertain outlook for surimi supplies from other producers, mainly Southeast Asia and China, according to a report fromMinato Tsukiji.
For roe, mainly sold to Japan and formerly the cash cow of the industry, the outlook is also looking more positive, with recovery rates up on the A season of 2013.
Production of headed and gutted (H&G) pollock is 3,900t so far, down 23.52% y-o-y.
H&G prices are also under pressure, because of the Russian Sea of Okhotsk fishery now having the MSC approval, also. The Sea of Okhotsk fishery takes place largely in A season, meaning Chinese processors can produce double frozen blocks for customers wanting MSC products from Russian fish, as well as American.
The Russian H&G price is currently around $1,400/mt, with American fish still selling at a premium, but largely because there is more bigger fish available, rather than the large premium US H&G used to command from being the only MSC pollock available.
According to producers in the US, the strategy is to cut PBO production and dry up the market in Europe, resulting in higher prices in B season. “Demand is still strong — in Europe and the US — and we don’t think there is much stock around,” one said.
At the same time, the low prices are causing more US buyers to switch to once frozen — PBO, deepskin or individual quick frozen (IQF) fillets – over twice frozen pollock, processed in China from US or Russian H&G.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
(vasep.com.vn) The Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2026 is taking place from September 1–3 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing approximately 300 companies and organizations across the shrimp supply chain. Representatives from VASEP are attending the event as part of the Vietnamese delegation, strengthening connections with partners across the global shrimp industry.
(vasep.com.vn) At the international B2B seminar (Hosted Buyer Program) held as part of Vietfish 2026, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Pham, Sales Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, delivered a presentation entitled “Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry: Changing for Sustainability.” From the perspective of a seafood processor, the presentation highlighted that Vietnam’s shrimp industry continues to play a leading role in seafood exports, but is entering a new phase of competition in which change is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) VIETFISH 2026 may have concluded after three dynamic days in Ho Chi Minh City, but conversations around the exhibition continue to resonate across international trade media, industry organizations, and the social media channels of participating companies.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
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