This year, Meg Major reports one retail executive told PG: “Overall, 2013 was a consistently good year from both a dollar and pound standpoint. Consumers were still buying our biggest driver, shrimp, even as price increases were passed on. It was probably one of the best years we’ve seen with our seafood sales in recent memory.”
PG’s survey for shrimp showed average dollars per store per week of $1,861, which is a 2.5% increase from the prior year. Volume declined by 2.1%, and promotional sales were cut back a relatively large 3%. Average retail prices were $8.04 which is up 7.7% from a year ago.
Other news from the survey was quite good, according to Major. For the first time ever in the twenty year history of this survey, not one of their retail panelists projected decreased seafood sales in 2014. 45.5% projected increased sales, and 54.5% anticipated static sales.
Other positives noted by Major were stronger demand for wild-caught products, certified sustainable products, and seasonal choices.
Within fresh seafood, the fin fish category increased average dollars and volume during the latest 52 weeks (up 3.5% and 5.3% respectively).
The crustaceans category (which includes crab and lobster, but not shrimp) had the largest growth within fresh seafood, up 7.2% in average weekly dollar sales and 12.7 percent in volume, aided by a 2.1 percent dip in average retail price.
The weekly dollar sales reported were $2,580 for finfish, $1,861 for shrimp, $717 for crustaceans, and $252 for mollusks.
The most interesting aspects of this survey, going into the Boston seafood show, is the confidence boost it gives retailers that consumers will stick with seafood, driven by increased interest in health and the variety of seafood products available.
With the decrease in promotional spending, another thing highlighted by Meg Major was the increased role for partners like Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and the Louisiana Seafood Marketing Board in developing retail promotion activities.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan are showing positive signals in 2026, indicating that the market is opening up greater opportunities for pangasius products, particularly processed and value-added products. In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan reached US$31 million, up 20% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached approximately US$5 million, up 30%.
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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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