Seafood Markets Mixed As Tariffs Drive Import Costs

Producers and processors should watch trade policy closely as tariff impacts ripple through seafood markets.

CATHERINE_PUCKETT_19_06_06_US_RI_OYSTER_WENCH_0008.jpg

Catherine Puckett (FarmHER S4, E8)

FarmHer, Inc.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV)— U.S. seafood markets are showing a blend of stability and firmness this week, according to Urner Barry.

Domestic shrimp prices are steady to firm as production slowly increases, while domestic browns remain steady but with a less-than-adequate supply.

Imported shrimp markets continue to climb, especially black tigers and whites, as tariffs and replacement costs push prices higher. Mexican shrimp markets are steady ahead of the new season, while Argentine red shrimp remain stable.

Catfish, both domestic and imported, are holding steady, though imports face tighter supplies. Atlantic farmed salmon prices are steady, while mahi-mahi and pangasius are firm on limited production and tariff-related costs.

In the whitefish complex, cod, pollock, and haddock all face supply challenges with steady-to-firm pricing. Premium species show similar trends: red king crab and Alaskan snow crab are strengthening on short supplies, lobster tails are firm, and lobster meats are seeing price increases.

Tony’s Farm-Level Takeaway: Seafood buyers face rising costs on imported shrimp, crab, and some premium species due to tariffs and supply shortages, while domestic shrimp and catfish remain relatively stable. Producers and processors should watch trade policy closely as tariff impacts ripple through seafood markets.
Related Stories
Ranchers have a lot going on at the moment, but some ‘friendly’ news could be coming with this month’s Cattle-on-Feed Report from the USDA.
Energy risks could reshape global ag trade flows.
The ag trade deficit is narrowing, but export competition remains strong.
The Trump Administration’s new rule limiting CDL renewals for immigrant truckers is seeing mixed reactions in agriculture. While some support the change, it is raising concerns about higher freight costs and impacts on U.S. grain export competitiveness.
At the Port of Brownsville, shrimpers are facing rising operating costs and increased competition, but many shrimp producers and local lawmakers remain optimistic about the industry’s future.
Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt fertilizer shipments, raising costs and creating uncertainty for U.S. farmers ahead of planting season.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Jael Cruikshank, the newly elected Western Region Vice President, shares her story on this week’s FFA Today.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.
Leslee Oden, president of the National Turkey Federation, and Jay Jandrain, CEO of Butterball, joined us in the studio on Monday to discuss the history, significance, and expectations surrounding this year’s presidential turkey pardon.
According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.
Higher rail tariffs and tighter Canadian supplies will keep oat transportation costs firm into 2026.