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

VASEP published Report on Vietnam seafood exports in 2025

 |  11:00 11/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.

Ca Mau’s shrimp-rice model proves effective in climate change adaptation

 |  09:28 09/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.

Lam Dong tightens fishing vessel management in decisive crackdown on IUU fishing

 |  15:02 06/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Can Tho’s fishery output hits nearly 783,000 tons in 2025.

 |  15:12 04/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.

Pangasius exports in 2025 exceed USD 2 billion, with strong growth in multiple markets

 |  16:26 02/02/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain shift sharply toward processed segments

 |  09:48 26/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.

VIFTA expands opportunities for Vietnamese seafood enterprises in the Israeli market

 |  09:02 22/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...

Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports surge, EU market emerging as a late-2025 growth driver

 |  09:43 20/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.

Ca Mau leads the nation in shrimp output

 |  10:08 16/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.

Pangasius fingerling prices hit record highs

 |  15:21 14/01/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.

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