“This year it’s more evenly spread out, whereas last year was more of a feast or famine,” Eastern Fisheries Executive Vice President Joe Furtado told IntraFish. Scallopers are coming out of a unique situation brought on by the Japan's nuclear fallout last year.
Even though seafood from Japan was safe to eat, negative consumer perception still lingered from the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, making seafood from Japan a risky commodity to try to sell, Furtado said.
That meant circulation of Japanese scallops, which have become a staple in the giant US and Chinese markets, went down dramatically, and prices responded accordingly by increasing dramatically. Figures from Seatrade International show prices at this time last year at $10.50 per pound for most sizes, whereas this year, with supply back up, prices are at $9.75 to $10.
The higher overall supply from Northern Japan, which is expected to hit the US market by early August, is having a big affect, Furtado said.
"The northern Japanese fishery has become a staple import for both the United States and China, and with the events surrounding last year’s tsunami, buyers were forced to shift their efforts more heavily into the US fishery," Furtado said. But both supply and prices could change as the year continues.
“Right now you're going to see the (US) landings slow down a little bit, and I think you're going to see boat prices arc upward," Ross Paasche, president of the American Scallop Association, told IntraFish.
At this time last year, prices started to arc upward, and by the end of the year, they had reached a 9 year high of $11 per pound for both 10-20 and 20-30 count per pound sizes.
Prices for scallops at the auction in New Bedford, Massachusetts:
8-10 per pound count: $10.54 on July 18
10-20 per pound count: $10.10 on July 17
Twelve and under per pound count: $9.90 on July 18
Demand up in China
Chinese scallop buyers are shifting their preferences towards higher end products in an effort to keep up with the country shifting landscape.
Over the past two years, Eastern Fisheries’ biggest area of growth has been in China, where demand for dry, chemical free, unadulterated, frozen scallops has increased dramatically, Furtado said.
Two years ago, just 10 percent of the scallops Eastern shipped to China were dry and chemical free. That number shifted to 50 percent last year, and 80 percent this year. However, this may not be a direct reflection of the final product form Chinese consumers are eating.
“I don’t know how many of those customers are taking those products and further processing themselves,” he said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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