Popular seafood items slipping out of reach for Japan consumers due to soaring prices

News 16:46 12/09/2014 502
Popular seafood items are drifting away from ordinary consumers in Japan due to soaring prices.

Imported seafoods familiar to ordinary consumers, such as shrimp, salmon and tunas, are now seeing sizable price increases in Japan.

The rising trend has been spurred by such factors as supply shortfalls caused by the spread of disease at overseas farming sites and lackluster fishing catch, plus the ongoing downturn of the yen's value.

Also industry observers point out the growth of global demand for seafood over a long-term range is in the background of the price hikes.

Retailers and restaurants in Japan are coping with this situation by raising the retail prices and changing menus and food materials.

With respect to shrimp, contagious diseases broke out in various farming sites in Asia from the latter half of last year.

Landings at farming ponds in Thailand--the largest exporter of shrimp in the world--and China this year are projected to decrease by 30-50% over the previous year.

The wholesale price of Thai vannamei in Japan has nearly doubled from the level a year ago, with the price of Chilean coho also going up in a similar range.

Supply of salmon shrank across the board mainly due to the disease affecting Chilean trout--a commodity competing with coho.

As for tunas, dealers' trading price of frozen bigeye tuna surged about 30% from the spring this year at major landing ports such as Shimizu, Shizuoka, west of Tokyo.

Tuna fishermen are witnessing lackluster haul in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Tuna fishing boats from Taiwan and other countries have been limiting their operations because of the sluggish tuna market in Japan until the first half of this year and the yen's decline.

Analysts note the move to raise prices among retailers. Akidai, a supermarket in Tokyo, sells Chilean coho for about Y150 per 100 grams, which is about 50% higher than the price a year ago.

Large-size shrimp which is in short supply fetches over Y250 per 100 grams, a level 10% more than a year earlier.

The supermarket will possibly reduce the chance of offering special sales for bigeye tuna. Toshin Suisan, a specialized fresh fish chain in Tokyo, has been upgrading prices of various commodities from time to time. It is now trying to increase sales of pre-cooked foods—using less expensive materials.

They are marketing food products using more vegetables and special sauces together with shrimp and salmon in a bid to reduce the resistance of consumers toward price hikes of shrimp and other commodities.

The price uptrend is also impacting restaurant operators. Akindo Sushiro, the largest revolving sushi chain in Japan, recently stopped sales of five products using shrimp at its outlets.

Ganko Food Service Co. which operates Gankozushi chains mainly in the Kansai region centering on Osaka, reduced the amount of non-shrimp materials used in traditional Japanese dishes in a bid to restrain the prime cost.

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Ca Mau launches low-carbon shrimp branding project

 |  08:25 24/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.

Khanh Hoa promotes disease-free golden pompano seed production for industrial marine aquaculture

 |  18:59 22/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.

Vietnamese pangasius: from export recovery to the need for upgrading the value chain

 |  14:46 20/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.

Vinh Long accelerates the development of high-tech shrimp farming

 |  08:29 19/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.

Đồng Tháp strengthens efforts to tackle illegal fishing

 |  08:12 18/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.

Seafood businesses enhance competitiveness and boost exports.

 |  08:38 17/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.

EFTA deal provides fresh opportunities for seafood exports

 |  08:47 16/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung issued important directives related to the pangasius fish industry and agricultural product processing in An Giang province.

 |  08:21 15/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.

Strict disease management ensures the quality of Vietnamese tilapia

 |  09:50 13/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.

Vietnam and Brazil strengthen economic ties, VASEP promotes seafood trade cooperation

 |  18:00 10/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC